The Dog's Name

Translated by
Dr. Henry "Indiana" Jones, Jnr
Monday, April 17, 2006

Trueborn asked “what of love?”

It has been written, by people far more eloquent and literate than I , that no greater love does a man have for his fellows than to lay down his life for them…and while this weekend past we are asked to remember the sacrifice Jesus made for us…I still looked at Trueborn’s words and wondered.

And so while my mind picked at memories and thoughts and the flittering of ideas teased my synapses with gentle taunts, I had to wonder about love, and with it the concept of Jesus, redemption, forgiveness and of course a Soul.

C.S. Lewis once wrote “We don’t have a soul; rather we are a soul that has a body.”

A friend recently asked about the idea of soul mates, rather than respond to her thoughts, for they are hers and therefore neither right nor wrong, but just hers, I thought I would weigh in with my 2 cents (and since I am Australian that means they are really worth about 1.4 cents on the open market ~grin~)

But here they are;

I believe you can love many people in your lifetime, some even simultaneously, I believe that the type of love that begs marriage, children and thoughts of forever can only exist for one person to give to a single other at a time…I believe that the special love we all seek, that afforded by a “soul mate” comes once maybe twice in a lifetime. This is not to say that you can’t find great happiness with one of many people in your life, wise choices will take you there, but the soul connection is not “perfect”. Which of course is a bit scary, since what if I’ve already met them and didn’t know it…but this of course is not how it works for soul mates, who will just gravitate to each other, and life no matter how rocky, leads them to meet and meet and meet until they see the other for what they are.

I think love is selfish, love too often serves its ownself, but with “soul mates” this isn't so, the heart seems to beat in two bodies at the same time…the connection is deeper, and others can see it, sthe selfishness is shared so that rather than serve the individual it serves the couple.

And seeing how it is Easter, a weekend when we recall our Lord, where we are called to think about love, sacrifice and serving others, it is perhaps with no surprise that I think the Bible probably has the best description of what to see in “soul mates”, to answer the question “what of love?”

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self seeking, it is not easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres.”

- 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 NIV

When you see a couple who do this without even trying, who just seem to “serve” each other, I think then you look upon “soul mates”, two people who’s lives just seem to beat in sync and you know they are supposed to be together, the connection between them becomes visible, everyone, including them, just knows.

Note: I really don’t like the term “soul mates”, but struggled to find the term I would think encapsulates what I mean…so for want of a better term.

Lectiones Sacrae Ex Libris Indiana 06:00

12 Comments:

Nick said...: Probably my favourite passage from the Bible - my ex grandmother-in-law recited it during my first wedding ceremony. I think of it often when pondering love.

I thought I'd met my soul mate with my second wife - turns out she hadn't with me...

Still, maybe next time...; 22:52
Scorpy said...: Nick...I think WE are soul mates (ROFLMAO)

Indy...another thought provoking post...I often ponder this myself...Soul mates is so 80's. People meet someone in the the town they have never left and state they have found their soul mate...that cannot be so...what if they ventured out of their world? I am sure they would eventually find 'another' soul mate in their next town...love is the mutual attraction of two people (or more) in a given place at a given time. I fall in love all the time but then I meet them and find that they are vapid, stalkers..I'll stop now as the cynic is lurking ~grin~; 07:19
ChickyBabe said...: My first reaction was the same as Nick's; this is the most popular reading at a wedding ceremony. I think I'm seeing a trend here as of late...

I don't believe there is a magic number of "soul mates", like one or three. I believe in "connections" which can happen at anytime during our lives, usually when we least expect them and they need not always be of the "ever after" type. But I'll stop here... I don't want to argue with a man who appears to be so much in love! :); 07:47
Trix said...: I'm not quite sure I like the term soulmates, either. I prefer "The One." Why? Because I met him, and I now know there is such a thing.; 08:57
meghansdiscontent said...: Soulmates is an okay term . . as long as you're not attributing it to The One. Trix is right on with that.

I have friends - Robin, in particular - that I would call soulmates.

I have failed to meet my One, yet. But that doesn't mean I don't believe he exists. Nor do I believe he will be a Soulmate.; 20:09
Officially Fabulous said...: I agree with Trix, but I say "Soul Twin". It's someone that just understands you, as you understand them... no explanation needed. Doesn't matter where they are, you will do what it takes to be with them. Because you believe in them, as much as they believe in you. You recognize instantly that a stronger force has brought you together. Something completely out of your control, but something you are so incredibly grateful for. Sorry, I ramble... love your post! : ); 03:44
Miss Natalie said...: Why do we automatically assume 'soul mates' (I dislike the term immensely) is only relative to a member of the opposite sex or a life partner?

I believe I have at least 4 ‘soul mates’, people I know, love and have done for at least 12 years. 1 of them is my ex-boyfriend - first love. 3 girlfriends I would be lost without, they enhance my life to such a point words can not begin to describe.

Soul mate doesn't and shouldn't equal 'ever after' either.

PS I'm intentionally avoiding the expression 'true love' *wink*; 09:55
Summer said...: I like the term "twin flame" rather than "soul mate."; 11:52
Sass said...: that's it - when can you marry me?; 23:58
Mel said...: I don't mind the term 'soul mate', although it's thrown around too easily and too frequently. Now, if someone said Krispy Kreme was their soul mate, I'd believe it in a nanosecond. :)
Soul Mate to me indicates someone you might share good, bad and inbetweens with, someone who you are equally at ease with as you are yourself. A soul mate connection need not be the person you are currently enamoured with/by, it's just someone with whom you have a 'connection' unlike that you have with others.
I don't believe it's as grand as poets make it out to be, but we have to think it is, for you see, believing that our soul mate is out there gives us hope and that's always good.; 06:33
trueborn said...: Thanks for the shout out.
Nice Post.

I perfer the term Kindred Spirit myself.

It explains so much yet so little.; 07:55
expat@large said...: I knew a couple who were all Corinthianic on the surface, so sicky in lovey-dovey it was like sugar-coated treacle...

Turns out she was shagging his best friend all along. We all suspected as much; the old 2 good 2 b true scenario. That is 100%(tm) True Story.; 18:50