Where Love Dwells
“And Jacob served seven years for Rachel: and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.” Genesis 29:20
Love dwells in eternal habitations,
where seasons form
as the dew from heaven
upon the grass —
In quiet abodes
where burdens are weightless
as scattered feathers
afloat
between the branches —
Where the waiting
is not waiting
and the silence is palpable
as the song
of apple blossoms.
by D. G. Vachal © 2012
A Fragrant Place
Let us go to the calling fields,
for the grove is pregnant with olives
ripe with rainbow
shades of purple, and celadon
pearls enter the race,
awakened from dreams
of yellow blossoms,
butterflies
and bees.
O bring me rinds of bergamot,
mandarin and lime,
branches of cedar
and sandalwood,
lemongrass —
and in the clearing
build a fire
for my kettle
of perfume.
Let the scents simmer
while with the sun
we walk the day,
but remember the pathways,
twists of trails,
faces of forests —
take me back
to that fragrant place
when twilight falls.
by D. G. V. © 2012
… for my mother
Music of Childhood
Play for me the melodies
of childhood
as the apricot glow turns
to voiles of lavender
and crickets chirp
in the coolness
of twilight —
come sit with me
on this piano bench.
Play not for the crowd
but for me alone,
Polonaise
in A-flat major —
let me watch your fingers
caress
the ivory keys,
let my heart explode
with pounding octaves,
climb crescendos,
dance with staccatos —
Tell me how long time ago
before bedtime stories
and childhood dreams,
you dipped my spirit
in the romance of Liebestraum,
the sweetness of nocturnes,
of etudes and preludes —
Now, as your fingers tend
the autumn flowers,
come sit with me,
play the melodies,
the music
of my soul
once again.
© 2012 by D. G. Vachal
*** Photograph: Heart and Music by Dragan Todorovic
“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.” I John 4:7
As children of God, we are commanded to love one another. If it were simply a matter of liking one another, then our obedience would easily be fulfilled. The commandment to love, however, is more difficult to accomplish.
What is the difference between liking and loving a person?
The two concepts are not degrees of the same thing. To like somebody is something instinctive and elemental; it does not necessitate effort; it comes naturally and is dependent to a large degree upon the physical senses and outward appearances.
The word “love” has sadly been debased and misused in modern parlance, often being associated with infatuation. But love is something that must be thought of in terms of God, because the Bible tells us that God is love.
Love is a highly intelligent process. In contrast to liking somebody, love is not driven by instinct or natural responses, but operates at a higher level. It is determined to go beyond the superficial, infiltrating the inner person, to dig into something deeper and of more value. Love overcomes obstacles and excuses, overlooks the superficial unattractiveness, in order to behold the person behind the imperfections.
We employ our mental faculties, as an act of the will, to love even the people we do not like; we treat them as if we do like them, and choose to act with kindness towards them in spite of our natural feelings. It is an act of obedience.
And yet there is more to love. As the apostle John asserts: “But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how can the love of God abide in him?” I John 3:17
Love drives us out of our seat of theorizing and romanticism, to do something about easing the pain of our fellowman. By its very nature love must express itself, not in words, but in actions.
Such are the salient attributes of love, and the reason we are commanded to love one another is because love is of God. And love is the litmus test of our being born of God, of our knowing God, and of our passing from death unto life.
** Reference: Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Life in Christ, Crossway:Wheaton, Illinois, 1982, pp. 357-366.
** Photograph: On Golden Pond by Artemis
lilies, sparrows and grass 
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