Michelle (M): A love that never ends—is there such a thing? Never is such a final word. The end is the close of everything. Is it possible to love endlessly or be loved endlessly? Humanly, I don’t think so. But I could be wrong. Why, have you experienced it?
Darwin John (DJ): I heard this as a title a movie, a teleserye and a song and I can name the tune in four notes! Will that count for experience? But seriously, I think love is endless. Its best description to me is found in the scriptures—it endures all things, believes all things, hopes in all things. The thing is some of us label it as a mere synonym of “romance,” no thanks to these meant-for-each-other movies where lovers are torn apart by illness or ill will. And so we over-act or over-react until it’s over. While romance plays a role in love, we need to remember that it is not just a feeling but largely a decision.
M: On second thought, I think it’s possible for one to truly love someone forever and ever. I have read and heard of love stories that span a lifetime. No doubt they are inspiring and many of us wish we had that kind of love. Eclipse is currently making a killing at the box office. No matter what the circumstances, a love without measure does not measure how it loves, gives and endures. We wish we could perfectly love an imperfect person. We can’t. We can only give the kind of love that we have in our hearts, an imperfect love.
DJ: Oh, you mentioned about that movie, which some girls force us to watch if we want to continue with our role as their boyfriends. This movie successfully puts me to sleep after a day of white water rafting! Love is an important part of our relationships, be it dating, family, marriage (those formed by arrangement or by choice). Because we live in an imperfect world, it hurts when we love. Sometimes, we disappoint, or we’re disappointed.
The golden rule helps. Love is economics, too. Irregularities between the supply and demand of emotion creates a commotion. So we make sacrifices. We compromise. Feelings are not enough to go through all these. Being hurt is never pleasant even when you’re a 107-year-old, whinny, emo vampire—more so because we’re all humans. It takes maturity and lots of decision to get through all these hurts till they hurt no more. Love will have its chance to become endless only when its rooted and founded in faith. This is the ideal.
M: Well, yes, I think so. This may sound trite but love will never end if we don’t let it end. It can go on and on for as long as people decide to love, no matter what the cost. This reminds me of 1 Corinthians 13: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres.”
We already have someone who loves us without end. Having that in mind, I hope that we will learn to love as He loves till the end.
DJ: Someone said that once in a while, right in the middle of ordinary life, love gives us a fairy tale. This quote can make someone really teary eyed due to frustration. This tale happens only to fairies and a lot less to humans. Love needs work. Our hearts are made of stronger stuff than we think. And our capacity for fighting lasts as long as we believe we keep on keeping on. I learned that we will not forget as long as we don’t want to. Love is a choice, a decision.
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