Seen and Unseen

Is there love?

That was the question that plagued the online discussion. There was a constant back and forth with everyone piping in their opinions of the infinite love.

"How can there be love if there is all this suffering?" "The Crusades caused all this death, all in the name of love" "How can love allow babies to die in an airplane crash?"

These were the questions that continued back and forth online. The answers were random, meandering and lack in proof or logic. Such deep questions were tackled in philosophy or theology classes but in today’s world where armchair PHDs would spew forth their ill conceived theories lacking substantive rational, everyone has an opinion. One person’s question caused me some pause, yet opened an opportunity for a more extensive response: Show me Proof that there is love.

Where shall I begin? How does one describe the color of wind or what wind is without describing what it does. How does one describe beauty that exist in nature, a person's features or in a exceptionally crafted vehicle. Beauty they say is in the eyes of the beholder. Beauty they say is symmetry. Wind’s existence is evident through its actions. We know it exists because of what it does, its effects and ultimate outcomes. One could the same of love.

Love exists through its actions. Can one touch love or touch the one we love? Can one see love or what we describe as the cherished looks from ones eyes. They are in love because we can see the gazed look, the adoring stare or the impassioned lust. A gift of flowers or chocolate demonstrates acts of love. Giving to charity, sharing a coat, giving a blanket, hotdog or sandwich to a homeless person are all acts of love. Can one touch love? Can one embrace love? We can give hugs, receive hugs. Caressing lips teasing with longing gazes are all described as love, yet love can not be bottled but expressed.

I closed my laptop, thinking of that question of love’s existence. I decided to take that walk in the park and witness acts of love to adequately explain the existence of true love. It's a Saturday afternoon with a cloudless sky. Central Park, a stone’s throws from my apartment, is a large enough area to find proof. I entered on 72nd street as I sauntered through Strawberry Field. John Lennon was shot near here. He spoke of love many times.

I sat in the middle of the field. I stared off the distance and I watched ultimate frisbee, teenager laughing and tackling each other. I watched a couple walking had in hand. They stopped, staring into each other’s eyes, talking to each other-he touched her nose they had a peck on the lips and they continued on their way. Two birds soared in the sky on a random pre- determined course. The birds criss cross speaking a language that they only understand. The aroma of hotdogs lingered bringing a pavlov like reaction, stomach grumbling. I saw kids blow soap bubbles then chase them. They blow, pierced lips through the plastic circle. They are always so fascinated by these bubbles as they float and sway with the wind, proving the wind’s existence. They jump, hopping along trying to pop the bubbles. I looked at the grass, wondering how long it took to grow together, blade by blade. Every seed I saw various flowers, tulips, dandelions lilies…I plucked this marigold flower. The bright yellows as bright as the sun, reflects the sunlight. I think of Van Gogh with his pained creations, how genius can be displayed with a few brush strokes. He suffered to represent the natural creations before him. Pain coursed his ear yet he created timeless expressions of nature, of love. Love and wind painted on a canvas. I took the flower to my apartment, back to the my desktop.

I typed: “We are love, love is the wind. Love is everything that lives and breaths around us. Loveis the seen and what is not seen. Love is our inspiration. Love is beauty. Love is kindness, sacrificial and unselfish. Love exist because we exist. Open your eyes and see Love’s existence all around and stop questioning the obvious.”

I waited for a response. Nothing. Usually any statement would create a floodgates of statements with baseless conclusions, some angry some emotional. I then see the ellipsis, indicating that a response was forth coming. The ellipsis disappears, then reappears.

"Thanks bro. Keep coming through with that truth. Peace."

Peace and love. Peace and love.