In most religious and philosophical traditions, the expression of love is considered to be most sacred form of spiritual practice. It is also essentially one of our most basic human emotional experiences. We would think, that to love should be as easy as breathing. Yet, how often does love fall prey to competition, jealousy, resentment, anger and fear ? How often does the simplicity of love get complicated with romantic expectations ? Why do our experiences of love seem frequently to involve such pain, sacrifice, betrayal, and vulnerability ?

As a songwriter, I have for some time played with the image that to love is like singing a song. When I sing a song, especially one that I've written, my first focus is on expressing through words and music something that is spiritually satisfying to me. I begin with offering my best to myself and then seek to share it with others. I seek beauty passionately in a way that I enjoy whether anyone else is listening.

This image has drawn me to strive to express love in the same manner. In committing myself to loving acts, I begin in a primarily "selfish" fashion to feel love in an essentially energetic way that is pleasing to me. By this, I mean that I focus on feeling a loving spirit throughout my body and mind in a nurturingly musical and playful way. I commit to being aware of motives to win other people's approval, control situations and seek to guarantee future experiences. Feelings of jealousy, resentment because others are not emotionally generous, and hurt and loss over unmet expectations are all part of human experiences. The distinction is that while these naturally occur, they are not an expression of love.

It is my belief that when love is expressed it's qualities are unconditional, asking only for the joy of being expressed and seeking the highest good for others. To be "in love" need not be limited to some dream of finding our one true love and soulmate. It is I feel, best viewed as being in a state of being in which we endeavor to let our actions be generously loving. This doesn't require a spouse or lover.

Sure, when playing the music of love, we are at times out of tune, without harmony and even occasionally tone deaf. This seems to a greater challenge in close intimate coupling and parenting. The potential for being enmeshed in battle of egos, seeking to obligate other to us and demanding reciprocation increases when a relationship is seen as an exclusive monopoly that we can not live without.

When, we experience discord, we are offered the opportunity to turn back to seeking behavior which gives harmony and empathy. It helps to return to the basic concept that love is primarily experienced in the act giving it away. Life can be a simple process of choice. If, we want to have love in our lives then we simply need to choose to act in loving ways. How we behave is how we experience life. When, we meet each challenge with a loving response, we will feel love flowing through our mind, body and spirit. We are nurtured and rejuvenated by being in this energetic state. This will also attract others, who manifest in similar vibration.

As a songwriter, my ability to create songs is limited only by my imagination and willingness to playfully risk expressing myself. In the same way as lovers our ability to be "in love" is limited only by the restrictions that we allow fear to entice us to create. The infinite prosperity of unlimited love is manifested in our willingness to continue to create it. We can choose to let life be a continual love song by faithfully returning to love's simple melody of giving. Love and enjoy !