Tag: #romance

The Power of Love

Upon watching an episode of the Australian version of Who Do You Think You Are? which was a feature on actor and musician Cameron Daddo, a belief in the supernatural power of Love was re-ignited in my being. Cameron Daddo, 58 years of age, discovered that he had a maternal heritage of unfaltering love by a wife who followed her criminal lover from mainland Australia to Norfolk Island and down to Tasmania. On the other hand, Daddo also discovered that his paternal heritage was forged by a love story of a wife who sailed across the English channel to plead with a king for the release of her falsely accused husband.

Who Do You Think You Are Season 11 Episode 3 featuring Australian
actor and musician Cameron Daddo firstly aired on June 2, 2020.
Photo: IMDB

It was honestly an emotional experience witnessing the power of love to bind people together despite various adversities and uncomfortable situations. Themes such as self-sacrifice, holding on dearly to hope and having unyielding faith for a brighter outcome beamed through like a spectrum of light.

Furthermore, the British scholar, author and theologian Clive Lewis, in his 1960 book The Four Loves, categorizes Love into four main versions.
The first is storgē which is empathetic, instinctual or familial love – the love of children, parents and grandparents – as depicted in a family. It is natural as it is voluntary, emotionally stirs since it is forged by affection and familiarity; and it is also the most common version of love, as it is nearly unconditional and transcends most discriminating factors.

The second is Philia which is brotherly or camaraderie styled. It is a friendship founded over time upon common interests, values and experiences. He identifies this love in the friendship of Jonathan and David (as depicted in the Bible), and also Orestes and Pylades in Greek mythology.

The third version being erōs which Lewis specifically defined as intimate love and not so much the raw lust and sexuality; which he distinguishes as venus – relating to the Roman goddess of sex and fertility.

The Birth of Venus painting by Sandro Botticelli (Firenze 1445 – 1510) displayed in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy

After details of sexuality and the significance in spirituality, Lewis notes how Eros (or being in love) “…may urge to evil as well as good..”
(Lewis, C.S. The Four Loves. 1960. San Francisco, Harperone, 1960, p. 124)
The intense emotions fueled by this love can be illustrated in the Bible verse, “Love is as powerful as death. Love’s jealousy is as strong as the grave. Love is like a blazing fire. Love burns like a mighty flame.” (Song of Solomon 8:6)

The last version of love, as described by Lewis, is agápē or benevolent, unwavering, selfless and divine love between God and humanity.
The insane type of love that ignited the Christian Reformation and the thriving of the Christian faith under the persecution of Roman Emperor Nero. It is exemplified in the Bible verses such as , “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.” (1 John 4:7) and Proverbs 25:21-22 which reads, “If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee.”

Love is such a multi-dimensional force that drives people to be passionate about someone, something or some location. It is a personal belief that, ‘Love is not just said but is expressed to someone else. It is a decision made on a momentary basis to treat someone with great respect, to sacrifice of yourself for that individual and also to safeguard that individual or persons from personal ill-thoughts, external inquisitions, and being supportive towards your lover or loved ones.’

Love is for the most part requiring massive self-sacrifice that requires you to have immense patience, personal awareness, individual development and maturity, and also focus and hope.

And lastly, the Bible describes love as ‘patient, kind, it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, 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, always perseveres.
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.’
(1 Corinthians 13:4-8)

Whenever you have the opportunity, choose love!


Love conquers all

3 August, 2022

As a prelude, this article is inspired by the love story of former Prison warden Florent Goncalves and the attractive inmate Emma Arbabzadeh in the Versailles women’s prison, in France. It was then exaggerated in the French film Éperdument in 2016.

Developing a close acquaintance with someone is very powerful. Powerful in the sense of its impact on our mental health and also our physiology. A continual interaction with a complementary gender may lead to feelings of affection and a growing emotional attachment. Likewise, a growing friendship with a counterpart of the same gender may develop camaraderie and reliability. But in most situations as such, trust and familiarity springs forth. From a biological perspective, oxytocin is produced, with varying amounts, from these interactions.

Firstly, in terms of the development of an affectionate and intimate acquaintance, there may be a surge of attraction which may naturally erupt into sexual interaction. Despite how obviously fulfilling and satisfying sex appears to be, it can never be the ultimate goal of an intimate friendship. Sex in itself can not exclusively guarantee for you and your lover a durable and healthy relationship far into the future. Sexual activity should be regarded as a reward for enduring adversity together as a couple, overcoming challenges and distractions – and at the end of it still finding value and a deepened interest in each other and your relationship together.

In an age of saturation with lust and promiscuity, the act of sexual pleasure (the highest mutual activity a couple can engage in together and with each other) is cheapened and publicized as nothing more than a popular sales and marketing object.

Secondly, it would be more rewarding for couples who would like to advance their friendship to greater closeness, to consider other mutual activities such as service to the less fortunate, assisting each other in excelling in their careers, education, and learning new skills together.

Furthermore, we can find wisdom in the proverb, ‘It is better to pull the trigger when the gun is loaded in order to securely hit the target.’ Contextually, the trigger here can be sex; the loaded gun is an ever-developing relationship filled with history of surviving the adversities of life and challenges of reality together, and still being able to find value in each other and in your relationship together. The target here are your goals as a couple, and a long-lasting, healthy and satisfactory relationship.

Finally, it is naïve and immature to ignore the fact that a couple’s relationship affects their neighbours, workmates, associates, friends, relatives and family members. If a couple can consider serving their community in a positive and constructive manner, there will be widespread acceptance and support from those around you (whom you respect and consider important to you) towards your relationship as a couple.

In conclusion, I have personally come through two failed long-term relationships and these are some pointers that I have salvaged from my past romantic experiences. Sex should be used as an activity of affirmation and not used as a lustful act to smother yourselves in sweat, pleasure and vanity. Keep it special. Consider its power to bond two people together and can also becloud rational and reasonable decision making.

Have a great day! Don’t be afraid to love but be mindful that loving someone requires servitude and self-sacrifice. It’ll cost ya!