"The Eryn"

 Love is impossible. 

The word "love" is the ultimate example of the failure of the English language. What does it mean? "I love you" is said with such ease, but true, real, honest love is something so complex, undoubtedly all languages fail it. 

"I love the mountains". No, I find wandering in the mountains, in God's creation, to be life-giving, restorative, building strength into every part of who I am. To say, "I love the mountains" is trite, incomplete, insufficient. 

Love. Oh the ways we love. 

A phone call - I'm thinking of you, I miss you, I care about you. 

An act of generosity, seen or unseen, known or hidden. 

A "no", because sometimes it is required. 

A visit from afar. 

The love of labor and hard work. 

Choosing to put down a beloved animal out of mercy. 

Prayer. 

Perseverance in trials. 

Faithfulness. 

The strong building up the weak. 

Sacrifice. 

Kindness. 

Courage to do what is right. 

The detailed ways that love is woven into the tapestry of my life astound me; it is beautiful color added where I least expect it. I am constantly surprised (and delighted!) by love. 

I have a long-term (for the past 8 years) friend(s) who has sent me little treasures over the years. I have literally NO IDEA who it is, but sometimes I open my mailbox to find a little black porcelain bear holding a sunflower, a Christmas candle, a handwoven throw, a shirt with an encouraging message, a new book, etc. And, literally every week I receive a breve latte coffee (or three) from Matador with the title "The Eryn" written on the cup. Aunt Debbie brings me one every week, neighbors stop by and drop one off, friends (from in town or out of town) pop over and bring one by, Allie brings one on her way over to give Lochlan speech therapy. It's a kindness, a personal touch of love that always means so incredibly much. And my Matador buddies love trying to figure out the mystery friends who ordered that morning. :-) 

There really isn't an exhaustive list for love. It's impossible to define. This world, the whole of humanity, is changed by love - Divine Love - whether or not it is seen, understood and/or recognized.