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Monday 12 August 2013

On Sharing Aloneness

The Hestons-65 years of love

St. John of the Cross expresses perfectly what the soul wants to experience with the Bridegroom.  He writes,

"Strange it is, this property of lovers, that they like to enjoy each other's companionship alone, apart from every creature and all company."

This tendency to want to get away from society and be with the other alone is a sign of true love. The love must grow, of course, and reach out to others eventually, but at first, one cannot wait to be with the other, alone.

Love which grows in this exclusivity will be strong enough to face the hardships of life and the challenges which come after marriage. This special love is so precious that one of my favourite memories is of a friend of mine whose husband phoned her daily at exactly the same time from his office as a doctor, or within the hour, after 25 years of marriage. The special love never died and was fed by the sharing of a life together and six children.  It was so touching to see this type of care for the moment when the two were just alone, even for a few moments on the phone, in a busy, busy day.

Dr. H. valued his time with his wife, and Mrs. H., his. Three of their children who have grown and left, as two are still at home, have made good marriages. Another one is still at university. The love of that couple formed the centre of the family  and will stay a centre in the hearts of their children.

From Into Great Silence

John of the Cross explains that, "The reason they desire to commune with each other alone is that love is a union between two alone."

He understands this in normal, human relationships and in the soul's relationship with God. One must meet God alone.

Time alone, time sacred and defined, becomes the centre of one's life in God.

To be continued....

And see also http://supertradmum-etheldredasplace.blogspot.ie/2013/08/people-ask-why-suffering.html

And...http://supertradmum-etheldredasplace.blogspot.ie/2013/08/on-constant-quiet-yes-and-constant.html