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Love.....what is it? How do we get it? Once we have it, how do we keep it? If it's true love, then why is it so hard?....these are some of the questions i've dedicated my recent years to trying to understand. At first I thought love was a physical connection (i know, nieve right?) and then i thought it was something i could never have (uhoh, emo time)...but then I realized that it was something ive always had, it just hadnt really manifested itself in my life as of yet.

There are three types of love (eros, philos, and agape), and all can be represented by fire.

Eros, is a match. it is physical attraction, or lust, something take little effort to create, provides relatively no lasting heat, is easily extinguished and forgotten (college much?).

Philos, is a torch. it is the love one has for friends or family (for some of us). The world around us can influence the direction that the fire moves, but ultimately, it requires a catastrophic event to put this fire out. This love is based on sometihng more than attraction, but one that is meaningfull and lasting.

Agape, the bonfire. this is the greatest love of all, so great in fact, that it isn't even human. This is God's love, or a completely altruistic love of others more then ourselves. As humans, we are incapable of being completely and totally selfless (although some of us try), and thus agape can never truely be attained by us, we simply aren't that enlightened.

So i ask you this before I go.....what type of love defines your life? how do you spread it and let it shine? does it shine still or has it been extinguished by our world? If so, i'd be happy to provide you with the materials to start your own fire once again.

peace