I am not a big fan of love stories between men and women because more often than not, the plots are all the same like what they portray in telenovelas – stealing one’s partner; maintaining lovers or concubines leading to separation; legal battles over properties and custody of minor children; meddling of in-laws; and many more. What started as a sweet and peaceful union usually ends up bitter and painful.
I must admit though that there are love stories worth pondering like the love of Edward and Bella in Breaking Dawn; that of Belle and Prince Adam in Beauty and the Beast; that of Rose and Jack in Titanic; that of Bishop and Alba in The Mechanic; that of Maria and Captain Baron von Trapp in The Sound of Music, among others. These are love stories that we enjoy watching because they are products of brilliant minds designed to titillate our imagination about the beauty of love.
Have you ever asked yourself what love really is? Poets, writers and lovers define it differently and I’m sure all of you have your own definition as well but the Holy Scriptures has a more concise and perfect description saying that “God is love” (1 John 4:8). It further says that “whoever lives in love lives in God and God in him”. (1 John 4:16) Discussing this kind of love is not easy because all mortals as I see it fall short of what God wanted as to be so I am leaving it to Theologians to explain.
Love is encompassing. It surrounds us. Wherever we go love is there. Even if it appears in many forms – love of the Universe, love of country, love of other people, love of the enemy, love of the opposite sex – love is beautiful. We can see it in true-to-life movies, in fictionalized stories, in our daily lives. Even in hard action-thriller films like Die Hard, Fast & Furious, Taken, Hunger Games and the like, love can be seen as the moving factor to combat the enemies and save lives.
Quoting from a song, “love is a many splendored thing. It’s the April rose that only grows in the early spring …. a golden crown that makes a man a king …” Love and music are inseparable, the latter considered as the language of the soul. When you are in love, you can hear music in the wind produced by the falling leaves, from the wind chime hanging in your front door, from the chirping of birds on tree tops, from the running brooks, sometimes from the footsteps of your loved one walking in the hallway.
As you celebrate the Feast of Saint Valentine of Terni this February 14, pause for a while and ask yourselves if you are worthy of the love God has bestowed upon you. Happy Valentine’s Day my dear readers! May the gift of Love be with you always.
Melinda Bagsic Evangelista
I was born to write and I believe that’s my calling. I love writing because it brings me to the realm exclusively of mine. It is also my opinion that “immortality” can be achieved not by searching for the Holy Grail and drinking from it but by living your life worth-writing or writing something worth-reading. Since I cannot promise you a life worth-writing, I keep myself busy writing something worth-reading. I am thankful to God for giving me the talent and skill to see life in different perspectives not seen by many and the courage to share it to my readers. This first ever Tutubi Digital News Magazine is a perfect avenue to bring you the many facets of life that you can ponder upon in this time of the pandemic. Enjoy reading all the articles.
