Alchemy of love!

Love is the practice of alchemy upon the human soul, except that it actually works! That which is base, ordinary, ambivalent in its existence, unknown of its purpose, seemingly redundant and simply superficial is suddenly brought forth to magnificence, like warm sunlight coaxing reluctant petals to blossom to the fullness of their capacity. 

Just what are these emotions about? These turbulent swirls of unrest in otherwise calm waters, what do they wish to say, what do they indicate?  Sometimes I need to retreat! I need to retreat to the silence of comforting quietness which whispers all the answers I seek, like divers diving into the depth of deep oceans to retrieve pearls from oysters or more simply like the shy mushrooms, growing in the forgotten parts of the garden, peeking at the world like an observer unaware of its own participation. 

Randomly thumbing through a magazine, I stumble upon an article about a monk who spent twelve solid years in silent meditation. I neither wish to follow those excessive steps, nor do I wish for her to make meaning of my life, but I'm curious! What was it like? What did she learn? What does she have to teach? True love! True love she says is asking what you can do for another without wanting to be asked the same. I cringe at the imperfection in my own affection and feel determined to be less selfish and more present to those around me. 

Naturally I fail! 

Once again I hear the very same words, by a world-renowned author, the manufacturer of awareness, the keeper of the present moment and another remarkable human being. Love he claims is an egoistic addiction that is not true if its not free from wanting. 

This time I'm not impressed!  None of this ties to packing lunches, driving kids, folding laundry or staying up at night worrying anxiously about the young, the aging, the un-empowered and the indecisive. How do we proceed if we are constantly encouraged to be more pure than our pure selves, more dedicated, more superior, more kind, more giving and more human than we humanly can be? Just how do we proceed?

I wonder if this love that is real and if this love that is so far away from the truth, if this love is as good enough? My answer is yes! That love may be true! But this love is real! This love that's tarnished with a bit of wanting is quiet simply splendid!  

This love that is wanting of a kind word, a caring deed, a protective act, a simple smile, a hint of reciprocation, a dash of recognition, a brush of affection, this real love is good enough and is healthy. After all, after setting up our throne on a very high pedestal and sitting there with our shining crowns, who amongst us, has not been tempted to crawl on our knees, eat grass and behave the way base creatures do and who amongst us after such degradation is not worthy of love that causes alchemy?