a description of love

Depending heavily on wisdom, love seems to have a dual nature. It belongs both to the center of affection — wherever that may be located — and to the center of practical thinking. It is a mixture: an affection that arises spontaneously, but which can also be cultivated, elevated, and strengthened; and a kind of thinking whose only goal is the well-being of the other.

Being a fruit of the Holy Spirit, love should have a long and continually developing life — creative and wise, clean and straight at the same time.

So, on the one hand, there is the deep affection mentioned above — like that of the father who kisses his returning son, unable to speak because he is so deeply moved.

On the other hand, there is a genuine wisdom that seeks the other’s flourishing.

If flourishing is not in view, it is not true love. It may be a form of affection, but it falls short.

This becomes evident in real-life situations — for instance, when a parent wants to create a good life for their children by providing many material goods, but never speaks of their responsibilities. The result is not true flourishing, but merely a comfortable life — one defined by material standards alone.

A flourishing life has multiple dimensions, all of which must be developed and balanced. It includes wisdom, knowledge, material welfare, peace of mind, responsibility, obligation, and fulfillment. It is a life lived in harmony with God’s design, respecting the boundaries He has established as a result of our fallen nature.