Welcome to Gaia! ::

Yes, I doubt he'll be happy to hear it, and doubt doubly so that so many people have said so. He can be as prideful as I can, and your assent with me might push him further away, though I'm glad for your kind words all the same.

You're a better man than I am, Aeric, if you never wished ill of children who taunted you. I can't really reply to your religious side of the comment--for me, Love is so much more than a religion, more, perhaps, than a lifestyle. You will have to forgive me, I suppose. Love requires no religion, and it is bound to none. And so, neither am I. But I can say that I was raised Christian and Romans has a verse in there--I wish I could remember what it was--that says, "Love is the completion of the Law." And that is a statement that I agree with wholeheartedly.

You don't need to "give the burden" to anyone, and I've little doubt that God would want it as little as you did, forgive me for saying so. Just drop it. Forgiveness is a thing that eases, because it is the converse to thanksgiving--that is, that both are based in acceptance, and actively apply goodness to a situation. Perhaps, "Agape" truly is "God's Love". It is certainly unconditional. But...I'm not so sure.

Maybe that Unconditional Love, that Grace that the Bible always talks about really is from God. Maybe the seeds of that are in every person, lying dormant, waiting for Love to unfold and change us. Maybe Goodness is waiting for someone to point it out, and plant it for us. Maybe for some of us, that person is God. But for me, the gardeners are a bit more humble than the Almighty--a stay-at-home mom and a Latin teacher.

I think it's different for each of us. I don't think anyone has the right to say that all Love came from one being (not that you did, Aeric). If someone did that to me, I need only to point to the nearest mother, animal or human, to show another source. Failing that, I could point to teachers. Or to friends.

I say this, Aeric, not to inflame you to retort, but because I think that we could all use a lot more Love, regardless of the source. Let's all just let Love be Love. And each person be their own. I think if we could take that monumental step, that tiny switch of fundamental mindsets, we could all get along peacefully and happily, even black cats and old women.

And who knows? Maybe even Lion will stop roaring and purr like a pussycat.

...Well...that might be stretching it a little bit, but...

Love and Vale anyway, and thanks for replying!
~Leavaros Dapple

No, Wolfsbane, it's an old joke between close friends. He'll understand just what I mean.

Oh, great, the last conversation that I wanted to have....

If everyone is okay with this, I would love to scoot this topic away from religion. Please. I'll allow it, if I must, but I don't want a real argument here. Or a religious debate. If it turns into either one, I'll have to go mod on someone, and no one wants that.

Love and Vale,
~Leavaros Dapple

I'm glad you have come to see it so, Snow. It takes a lot of courage to stare down Death and a lot of wisdom to realize that it's a silly thing to stare down altogether, and it is more courageous and wiser still to simply say that when it is your time, you'll go, with grace, and dignity, and in the truth that you Lived, and the beauty in that truth, Death cannot steal your glory.

And that is a true Lover of Life: one who knows better than to think Death can take something from them. No, it is we who can give back our life to the world, just like Morrie did, even in his dying days.

And in that Love, we are never forgotten.

Love and Vale,
~Leavaros Dapple

*bows with a flourish* I was a bit worrried that there was too much Masq in that thought. But I suppose a truth by any other name is still a truth. Unless that name were the truth, and then of course, another name would be a lie....

Way too much of Masq, sorry again.

Oh, by the way, would anyone bother reading it if I resurrected Masq's Rant?

(I'll try and keep the topic on Love from now on! sweatdrop )

Love and Vale,
~Leavaros Dapple

My word, even on the internet I'm highly talked about, how popular the topic of the cynic is.

I just want to say, because it seems that I've unwittingly portrayed myself as some kind of uncaring rock hardened by hundreds of scars both physical and emotional, that I'm hardly that kind of person. I'm just more rational, and more logical, though that can more often than not come off ruthlessly. This, of course, is the result of being the object of such things like you, Leavaros, listed, sexism, racism, agism, etc. I don't mind, in the long run, life is just a series of experiences, however, all those experiences just make you who you are, I am me, I am many things, which is why I'm so talked about. wink

Wolfsbanemoon, my pride doesn't keep me from doing anything, I rule my life with my head and with no emotion. That will undoubtedly come off strange and cold, but understand that I'll try anything, pride, love, hate, none of that keeps me from trying anything. I am more willing than anyone I know, including, I'm willing to bet, the majority of people in this thread, all spouting their own canons and flaunting their agreeances with Leavaros. Nothing wrong with agreeing with Varos, I'm not saying anyone should agree with me, but like Varos warned, judging people, especially me, based on a few forum posts, isn't good, you don't know me, I don't know you. For instance, you didn't know I'm in a 4+ year relationship, now, I think that qualifies as knowing a little about love, since women usually don't tolerate guys who don't show or say it after a certain point in the relationship.

I wouldn't mind if others had to grow up in my shoes, it would be an excellent test of will power and character. You seem to think that tribulations are a bad thing, they make you who you are, they solidify your character and make you wise. And no, I don't want to be nurtured, because I would have nothing to be proud of it I were babied, I would have no drive to be better, which I always aim to be, at all things in my life. I don't think that is spiteful, goal oriented yes, bettering definately, but spiteful? I want people to have initiative, and if it takes a few bumps in the road, why not?

Less pain? Jeeze, pain is natural, as is happiness and pleasure, if there was only good times there wouldn't be good times since you have nothing to contrast them with. I'll take my salt with my sugar thanks.



I do not have a temper, I simply react defensively like anyone would when they get pointed out as the unhammered nail in the floor. So I don't lean on people for support, that's how I brought myself up. I prefer being that guy for someone else and setting a shining example that they can at least attempt to follow, much like what you're trying to do. And so far, what I'm doing is working, I like having two legs and not four, if I need a hand, I ask for it, but if I can do something on my own, I will, that's my way.

Elvenjewl, love is many things, it is respect, it is lust, it is nothing more than a fleeting want. It doesn't always have to be sexual, friendship, is a type of love, platonic love to be exact. I love all my friends enough to put my life on the line for them, but that's just me, friends are worth more than anything to me. I prefer to use the term friendship, because I don't like throwing the word love around like its money, which is what Leavaros does, he even capitalises it. To me, love is a secret thing two people have with each other, platonic or romantic, it doesn't matter. To me love is a sacred thing that doesn't really need explanation, you just know and that is that. A good understanding of love to me is one that makes you feel like things are all right and that you don't have to worry about things when you're around that person(s).

I know how it is to have your friend abandon you, happened to me in grade 10, only there was more a verbal parting than anything. So he went his way and I went mine. I was in the same boat, suicidal, depressed and in a deep whole and hadn't even hit the bottom yet. Things eventually turned around, it took time, a suicide attempt and a lot of anger but I got through it. And as I'm sure Leavaros will state: If Lion can get passed it, anyone can. Or something to that affect. The trick is to give as much as you get, you care as much as they care, and after a while, if things are on an even playing field, you care a little bit more and they will care a bit more. You can't expect someone to be as enthusiastic about it as you are, I did that once and got bit in the a**, hard. Love takes time, you know you'll have it when you wake up one day and realize it out of the blue.

Brightleaf, thanks for keeping me in mind, though God might not like that, him and I aren't exactly on speaking terms anymore. I'm not religious in the least, I keep my beliefs solely on what is possible. I believe in others, I believe in myself, God and heaven doesn't earn my money or keep me healthy, I do. And on that note, I close my point on religion, because like Leavaros, I do not want to have to close and delete this topic due to people launching a digital crusade. Don't make me bring out the red font! Haha.

And on a final note, because this is one massive post... death I find is a giver, not a taker. It wakes us up, shows us our true mortality. When someone we know dies we are confronted with a hard reality that some day we too will die. I personally can't say I'm afraid of death, for myself, though I would do anything to keep someone I know from dying, even if it meant dying myself, I know a lot of people better than me, and like I said before, got to weed out the lesser beings. Death gives us our memories back, it reminds us of who has died, enriches us with a deeper understanding and compassion, it betters us strangely because we don't want anyone else to die. So you work to prevent it. Like every bump in the road, it gives us something to work against, a goal, but death shouldn't be feared, its just another part of living.

the Lion

No love is not lust. though you can describe lust with love.

LD, hatred can be powerful, though don't let it overcome you, the power may feel good, but trust me, i've almost let it take me over, it isn't a good feeling once you look back on it. I may seem like a nice and calm person, but like most, i've had my trouble with hate it exists in everyone.

Hatred should be there though, but balanced with love, if hatred isn't shown or let off, you may one day blow up at some innocent person over a very little stupid thing. if one overcomes the other then you may be led into on of the seven sins, lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy, or pride. These, exist in everybody, though more than often they're never balanced, they will fluctuate.

Lion, responding as you do, may seem to some as a short temper, everyone has a different view on how they would describe it, people will rarely agree to the same description of temper or other things.

and I too have lost friends, though some will come back. I'm the only Catholic of my friends, so while all the rest of them go on missions I'm at home. My best friend moved out of town and I rarely talk to him or see him, we both are busy with school and work.*edit also, since i have graduated high school, i've lost friends, like i say, some go on missions, though some go out of state to different colleges and i may only see some during the summer.

ShaDragon, all you've done here:



...Is reiterate exactly what I said.

Let me clear something up for you: Hate is what leads to all sin. Hate does not seek balance, or beauty, or thanksgiving and forgiveness. It seeks to debase that balance, and replace it with a terrible sameness that is simply horrifying to see. I know of no Love that can lead to any of the "seven deadly sins".

What Love is greedy? Why would you "envy" someone you Love? Is it not better--yes, better--to admire someone? Why would you let "wrath" befall someone you Love? What Love could allow gluttony? And lust, pride--these things are not sins in their proper places. And when you truly Love someone, you take "pride" in them for being them, and would never allow yourself to "lust" if it was not the proper time for one, or the both of you.

It is Hate that turns admiration to "envy" and thanksgiving to "gluttony" and self-knowledge to "greed". I know of nothing that Hatred cannot worsen, just as there is nothing Love cannot better. To Hate is to seethe poison into Life.

For a more detailed account, I entreat you to read my journal entry "Balance and Moderation".

I'm sorry about your friends. That must be hard to go through, and painful besides.

Love and Vale,
~Leavaros Dapple