Recently, I was prompted to look up the ancient Greco-Roman terms for love. It occurred to me that L-O-V-E continues to be one of the biggest things that hangs in the balance for our human experience. The Greeks defined versions of love: agape, philia, storge, and eros.
Agape - The type of love that causes you to lay down your life for your country
Philia - The type of love that makes you stand up for your sister or brother united in any fight or struggle.
Storge - The type of love that allows you to care for your child or those who you take care of.
Eros - The type of love you have for your partner, enduring in all of its complexity.
In English, we condensed all 4 “love” words into one. We have made a complete muddle of it .Not to mention, the mess often purposely created by those trying to get you to believe your agape or eros is under their control.
A favorite passage One favorite of mine is the passage that usually follows any homily on the four types of love. Agape (loyalty) is the one written about in this religious text. Eros (romantic) is the one we use the passage for. It was one of the readings at our wedding. But, I believe it can be applied to to Philia (brotherly) and Storge (caregivng) too. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” An ask of each of you There are 15 asks/declarations/requests/expectations in that short passage about love. Each is huge and can be an exploration in itself. None, I suspect happen without concerted effort. Yet, if this decade is about each of us owning our definition of love, then taking some time to look at those 15 asks in our own lives seems worth aspiring to.
I walk into the new year with these words in mind: "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy..." and looking, examining. exploring who, what, when, and how these words are exemplified; or, when I and others fail them. These words are a great measuring stick for what we are striving for.
Reference on Agape.Philia.Eros.Storge.
Reference Corinthians 13:4-8
