‘… you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. — Mark 12:30-31
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. — John 1:5
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The flame of a candle is modest and manageable by comparison to the burning tempest of a forest fire or the impossible mass and gravity of the sun. You kindle four small flames that, if supervised, provide light and warmth. They do not, unless neglected, threaten destruction. Rather they add comfort, brightness, and ambience: they change the environment in meaningful, positive ways.
Love also has other expressions. It can involve partners with whom you achieve eros: passionate love. Over time, it is also found as a more mature love that endures through long-term relationships, and is called pragma.
As one commentator explained, “Unlike the other types of love, pragma is the result of effort on both sides. It’s the love between people who’ve learned to make compromises, have demonstrated patience and tolerance to make the relationship work.” These forms of love, both the passionate and spicy eros and the seasoned and abiding pragma, hold significance in the spectrum of human experiences of love, all of which echo the greatest love: agape.
Is the light kindled within you this Advent season new and passionate or mature and familiar? — Rev Gail
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We are shaped and fashioned by those we love. — Goethe
If light is in your heart, you will find your way home. – Rumi