The Greatest Thing

“The Greatest Thing………..”

“The greatest thing we’ll ever learn is to love………and be loved in return”. How true, how true. Trouble is, it seems that most of us have a difficult time giving and receiving love. In fact, the monumental task of ‘defining’ love is often overwhelming. There are so many levels, types, categories, and dimensions when love for another is good…it is wonderful, however, when love turns sour, it is a pariah to our soul. It’s been said, that the three worst things are…”to thirst, and drink not”…”to hunger, and eat not”…”to lie in bed, and sleep not”…I believe there should be a fourth …”to cry out for love, and be loved not”….

What a cold and dismal world it would be without love. Without love, poets would not have the desire to pen their thoughts or express their heartfelt notions. Without love, the artist would only paint passionless, non-descript reality. There would be far less beauty around us, for no one would care. Love is the impetus that stirs us to create beauty, beauty to be shared with that special someone we hold dear. Have you ever been alone and witnessed a spectacular sunset? Didn’t you wish right then that your lover was there to share that moment with you? Love is to be shared. However, love has no boundaries when it comes to sharing. We may be oceans apart from the one we love, but if that love is true, neither time nor space can dampen the fervor of our love.

I was a young man of 26 when I fell in love for the first time. I had had many ‘relationships’ up till then, but none was as exciting or all encompassing as that first love. Right from the start, every moment spent with him was a joy; every shared experience was etched in my soul with the warmth of unselfish delight. “The Sound of Music” had just been released and we saw it for the first time, together. We were so enraptured by it that we saw it 17 times in a row…thank you Julie Andrews! To this day, (and that was 36 years ago) I am still moved to tears whenever I here the soundtrack, or any portion of the musical score. We were together barely 2 years, and were forced apart by tragic circumstances in my life. The heartbreak of losing him nearly destroyed me. Loneliness and desperation were my constant companions. I spent many long nights wallowing in self-pity and drinking to excess… My half-hearted attempts at subsequent relationships always ended in failure. I realize now that subconsciously I was comparing each one to my lost love, and no one could measure up to that ideal. No one that is, until I met a fabulous young man who stole my heart and gave me the unbelievably joyous pleasure of loving again! Unlike the first, ours is a non-sexual relationship, but what we do share is more than I had ever hoped for at this late date. We share an apartment and feel genuine love for one another in all other areas. I feel so blessed to have been given a second chance at love before I died. The love I feel today exceeds the love I felt that first time, so long ago.

Rex D.

All written word is "The Opinion" of Thomas A. unless otherwise noted...

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