Love.

Life is moving so you would think that most of the big questions of life would by now be answered. If it was all so simple, for those with enquiring minds it seems the answers do not come, the questions just get more difficult. So when I was asked to consider the thought of what is love I found myself once more in the depths of thought and consideration which a two-hour walk seemed not long enough.

There was once a man who suffered from cancer, cancer that could not be treated. He was 18 years old and very aware that time for him was short. All his life, he was stuck in his house being taken cared by his mother. He never went outside but he was sick of staying home and wanted to go out for once. So he asked his mother and she gave him permission.

He walked the town and found again the familiar shops. He passed a shop selling music, CDs and records. He looked through the front window for a second as he passed. He stopped and went back to look into the shop. 

He saw a young girl about his age and he knew instantly that she captivated his mind.  Was this love at first sight? 

He opened the door and walked in, not looking at anything else but her. He walked closer and closer until he was finally at the front desk where she sat.

She looked up and asked, "Can I help you?"

She smiled and he thought it was the most beautiful smile he has ever seen before.

He said, "Uh... Yeah... Umm... I would like to buy a CD."

He picked one out and gave her money for it.

"Would you like me to wrap it for you?" she asked, smiling her beautiful smile again.

He nodded and she went to the back.

She came back with the wrapped CD and gave it to him. He took it and walked out of the shop. He went home and from then on, he went to that shop everyday and bought a CD, and she wrapped it for him. He took the CD home and put it in his cupboard. He was still too shy to ask her out and he really wanted to but he couldn't. His mother found out about this and told him to just ask her.

So the next day, he took all his courage and went to the shop. He bought a CD like he did everyday and once again she went to the back of the shop and came back with it wrapped. He took it and when she wasn't looking, he left his phone number on the desk and ran out...

 Three days later the telephone rang.

The mother picked up the phone and said, "Hello?"

It was the girl!  She asked for the boy and the mother started to cry and said, "You don't know? He passed away yesterday."

The line was quiet except for the cries of the boy's mother. Later in the day. The mother went into the boy's room. She thought she would start by looking at his clothes. So she opened the closet. She was face to face with piles and piles and piles of unopened CDs. She was surprised to find all those CDs and she picked one up and sat down on the bed and she started to open one.

Inside, there was a CD and as she took it out of the wrapper, out fell a piece of paper. The mother picked it up and started to read it.

It said: Hi... I think you are a really nice person would you like to go out with me? Love, Jacelyn

The mother opened another CD...

Again there was a piece of paper. It said: Hi... I think you are a  really really nice person.  Do you want to go out with me? Love, Jacelyn.

Love is... when you've had a huge fight but then decide to put aside your egos, hold hands and say, "I Love You" Love is precious it should be grasped at every opportunity. Life is full of moments when love can touch our lives but often we let it slip from our grasp. Love is not something to consider or think about it is something to be lived.

Yes, I have had many thoughts over the years and preached many sermons on the theme, taught many lessons and had ethical discussions. Were they worth the time? of course they must have been if at my age this is all i can come up with on the topic.