I did some research about this topic and I created a short story to give you some food for thought.

Nicholas had walked 7 miles, and the last 100 yards were all uphill. Yet, this was a mission of necessity, a journey to find the answer to the question that has burned inside the soul of humankind since the beginning of time.

The old man on the mountain saw him coming. He poured his visitor a customary welcomed cup of tea.

“I believe you have come here to ask a question that has a thousand answers,” the old man said with a smile.

Nicholas wore a look of concern. “I’m hoping you can give me the one right answer that has come from your many years of gathering wisdom. People down the mountain say you are never wrong with your answers to questions, and that’s why I come to you today with mine.”

The old man laughed. “It is true that the wisdom I have from years of being taught by the wisest men and women in the world gives me the privilege to help those like you, but be advised, there are no right or wrong answers to life’s questions. There are only ideas we can put into our experiences. So, tell me the purpose of your visit.”

“I have come to ask you to help me find true happiness to life. I believe it’s not money or buying things. It’s not about status or power. I believe it’s about something I have failed to keep inside my heart, and yet I know that it’s the only thing that will bring me joy and peace of mind.”

Nicholas took a sip of tea and leaned forward in his chair. “Tell me, wise mountain man, what is love?”

The old man leaned back. “You ask about something that flies upon butterfly wings and drifts away with the clouds that come and go above us. Oh, yes, love is elusive. It escapes even the kindest of us when we try to capture it with a net or place it inside a jar. It cannot be caught and it cannot be imprisoned.”

“Please explain further,” said Nicholas.

“Love is untamed. It’s a powerful and unstoppable force, and if we should try to control it, love can destroy us.”

Nicholas appeared to be confused, and the old man took notice and went on.

“Once we place conditions on love, it can no longer survive. A man tells a woman he needs her to do this or to do that to earn his love. A woman tells a man he must be what she wants him to be to get her love. This, my son, will destroy love. It must be an unconditional acceptance between two hearts and two minds by two imperfect individuals, and that’s why it is so difficult to attain.”

He continued. “It’s easy to love each other when we please each other, but that cannot always be. If we are not careful with each other, love will lift its wings and out the window it flies. You discipline the misbehaving child, but never let the child go to sleep at night without you saying and giving your love.”

The old man gave another example. “She asks you to go to the store to buy food for the dinner party, but her request escaped your mind and now the store is closed. She becomes infuriated with you and has to postpone the party. Arguing begins and then you get off the topic and attack each other’s character, and both of you say words you will regret and can never take back.

“To put it simply, you must love someone when that someone is most unlovable.”

Nicholas was confused. “But tell me, how can I love someone if I don’t feel it in my heart?”

“Love is not a feeling that comes to you only when times are good,” said the old man. “Love is a decision. When you decide to love someone who may frustrate or even anger you, that person will trust you and realize how honest your love is. And that opens the door for that someone to return the love that was given unconditionally. Argue the issue, yes, but you must avoid saying, ‘You’re always so judgmental’ and then she replies, ‘You need to grow up and be responsible.’ Both of you are no longer arguing the issue. Now you’re hurting each other.”

Nicholas thought about the old man’s words for a moment. “But if loving someone unconditionally is not returned then what will be left is a broken heart,” he said.

“That is the risk for the reward you take, my son. A broken heart is painful, so painful, that you might lock it closed with a key and never open it again for fear that you will be hurt again.”

Nicolas appeared to be disappointed. “Then why should I bother with love at all if it’s likely to break my heart?”

“Because the broken heart heals if honest love is shared during the conflicts we face in life. During the oppressive heat of the day, the sun will still love the flowers and in return the flowers will bloom. During a long drought, the trees will still love the earth and the earth will nourish their roots with water from the rain.

“Why is it all worth it? Love nurtures us. Feeds our souls with courage to overcome whatever problems that we may encounter. Love rejoices with the truth.”

He reached out and took Nicholas by the hand. “There is nothing more life-giving than to love and to be loved.”

Nicholas smiled when a new thought came to his mind. “I will find love when love finds me.”

“And that will happen because you opened your heart and your mind to its extraordinary wonders,” said the old man, “and the elusive butterfly will perch upon your shoulder and bring you happiness and joy until the end of time.”

Email Rich Strack at richiesadie11@gmail.com