True Love

As I sit and read the writing of young people in our programs I realize that we are all the same. We are all longing for love. We are all playing the game using all of the defensive and offensive techniques that we've watched from those who have come before us. We play the game in hopes of not being caught with our pants down. No one wants to be vulnerable because no one wants to get hurt. Unfortunatley, vulnerability is how we truly love.

Love isn't about emotion. Love isn't about catering to feelings of like or dislike. Love isn't about our flesh, these carnal desires. Love is about sacrifice. When you love someone you are willing to give up your own personal wants and desires when they aren't in the best interest for the one whom you desire.

Love isn't the stuff of Hollywood movies. True love is the stuff that we hide. Love is sometimes ugly. It is the grit and toil, the mundane of life, the things that we often don't want to do but should. Love isn't easy. You don't love if you want an easy life. You lust if you want a passion of ease. You lust if you want to be physically fulfilled, but truly lonely. You love if you want to be purposeful, if you want to care, if you want to hope, if you want to share, if you can accept struggle, if you aren't afraid of sacrifice. Love is beautiful, but sometimes the realities of it can be harsh, even ugly.

True love is sacrifice.