Love is a beautiful word, but what does it mean? Many say they know, some think they know, and others give up trying to know. I can't define it for you. Let's just say, I'm a believer in genuine agape, altruism, and eros love. You have to define it for yourself. It's meaning is as various as the persons who uses it.

The word love has been used, abused, and taken in vain. It is so powerful that it make some people afraid to try it. So, they journey alone by circumstance or choice. Love makes you naive, vunerable, and some people prey on that. For predators, the thrill is in the hunt to steal, kill, and destroy. They give love a bad name.

Some people try to master it as if riding a bull or bronco. For others, they are more debonair, suave, doctors of elixirs, potions, powders, and lotions. Still some try to capture love and hold it prisoner. They fight for it, will kill and die for it. Whether it is for their country, or individuals. They'll say it was all done in the name of love. You can't use love that way. Won't they ever learn? Maybe, maybe not.

They say all is fair in love and war. To me it's like a thin line that has gotten blurred. But isn't it funny how love seems to have more and more tags that follow it. Like, love and peace, love and hate, love and war, love and money, love and country, love and humanity, get my drift? Love can stand on it's own.

Nothing can compare to the love of your higher power. For me, that is Jesus, like that Lionel Richie song, Jesus is Love. Also, there is no comparison to the serious, genuine, for real love of two individuals. Even the love of family and friends is a magnet.

In my experiences, of this lifetime, the ultimate is the love that strangers, who don't know you, won't judge you by the color of your skin, or the shape of your body, but will go out of their way to help you, give you praise, a hello, wink, smile, a two thumbs up, a pat on the back, an email, a phone call, a hug, and a kiss. And you still don't believe in love?

I didn't write this to define love, but to try to make sense of it all. I employ you to open up your heart, your mind and let love in. I know it's scary. I know you've been hurt, I have too. I'll suffice to say, however you define it, it always is and always will be, your choice. So, either put up or shut up.

Love, just is. Copyright ©2004 Pier Tyler. All Rights Reserved.