I just finished reading Green Dolphin Street by Elizabeth Goudge. I was really impressed.

Goudge has some slightly unorthodox views of religion, I think, or at least there are hints of that kind in this book. However there is a great deal of wisdom contained within its pages.

It is not a nice book at all. Happiness is elusive for most of the characters in the book. Also it holds a mirror up to the selfish, striving complaining woman that I am, and that really wasn't pleasant at all.

The lessons to be learned about the nature of love and humility are priceless. Most wonderful of is for a book to show honestly what the cost of real self-sacrificing love. I have been encouraged to work harder, and more importantly to complain less.

This book would certainly be much more appealing to women than men. I think its intended audience is women, but I do believe that a guy could learn a lot from it as well. It has its silly, sentimental moments, but has many poignant, awesome insights as well.

When you say you love me, do you mean it?

Having been deeply caught up in the work of trying to practice what I preach and put my principles in action, I have been away some time from my accustomed thinking ground: this here blog.

I have been thinking some about love. "Love your neighbor as yourself" and all that. I've come to the same conclusion as I have countless times before, that love isn't a feeling; it's something you do. If you love someone, you take care of them and serve them. Or, rather, not "if;" that can be misconstrued. Instead, when you take care of them and serve them, then you are loving them. This eventually brings up the warm feeling that you expect. When I help my mother with the housework that's when that "warm feeling" towards her is strongest. This is not, I think, merely because I have placed myself in her shoes and understand, but because I have loved her so I feel towards her those feelings which suit love the best.