"But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is
love." (1 John 4:8 NLT)
I have always believed that reading books can expand the mind, touch the
heart, and enrich the soul. They can also cause your imagination to do
some funny things at times. I can remember several years ago reading a
book where the hero went through several tragedies and at one point in
the midst of his pain and torment cried out: "Where is Love?". At that
moment in my imagination I leapt into the story, grabbed him by the arm
and told him: "It's everywhere! It's everywhere!"
Love is everywhere. You just have to open your heart to see it. For me
it is there every time I watch the dawn break upon a new day. It is
there every time a brisk winter breeze blows across my face. It is there
in the first flower of Spring. It is there in the green grass of Summer.
It is there in the last leaf of Fall. It is there every time my
handicapped sons give me a hug. It is there every time my daughter
laughs at one of my dumb jokes. It is there in the adoring eyes of my
old beagle and my new puppy. It is there in the purring cat that naps on
my chest. It is there in the smile of the clerk behind the counter. It
is there in the old man who opens a door for me. It is there when I read
a letter from a friend. It is there every time I pray. It is there in
everything I write and every act of kindness I do.
The Bible tells us that "God is Love." And since God is without
beginning or end then so is love. It fills all of His creation. It fills
us as well every time we open our hearts and souls to it.
Don't shut out love then. Don't live your life in pain. Open your heart
instead. Share your love instead. You will find that the more love you
give away, the more love you will have. You will find that the more love
you share, the more God's love will surround you. You will find that
when you live your life in love, you will find love everywhere.
Joseph J. Mazzella
