What is Love? Do you know? Written by Stephen O'Brien

Let us try to uncover briefly the nature of true Infinite Love.

By discarding some of the qualities which I think Infinite Love does not possess, perhaps we shall be left with what Infinite Love really is:

Love is not sex.

Sex is a physical expression of animal instincts; a satisfying of carnal desires through mutual gratification of the senses. Sex belongs to the world of matter and occurs either as a result of physical attraction or of the urge to procreate, or perhaps of lust and desire.

Sex is not a permanent state, and therefore it cannot be likened to Infinite Love; and your senses can be gratified without experiencing Love, so Love is not sex.

Love is not emotional attachment.

We cling to people and objects that satisfy certain needs within us: when we desire companionship or need to feel a sense of mental, emotional or financial security, etc. However, none of our sentimental attachments are eternal: they have a birth, a flowering, and then - because everything that is born must eventually die - a death.

But Infinite Love, by its very nature, must transcend all impermanent or finite boundaries; so Love cannot belong to the realm of 'transient' emotional attachment. This means that Infinite Love may have little to do with your personal relationships: your family, your children, your lovers, peer group, nation and your deeply-held beliefs may well belong only to the transient world of emotional attachment.

I would not disagree that the spiritual power of Infinite Love may make its presence dimly felt through emotional ties, but its eternal out-flowing source cannot be subject to time or circumstance, and therefore it exists beyond them.

Love is not fear.

At the core of man's being he is likely to be fearful of many things, among these: annihilation through death, aloneness, silence, rejection, sickness, pain and humiliation. A long catalogue of frightening psychological images have been lit within his mind by the fires of Thought and Emotion.

These dark energies not only flare up and unbalance the harmony of countless bodies, minds and spirits, but they also 'invisibly' shape and often control billions of lives - they compel many souls to link themselves with anything that promises to give them a sense of security.

But fear seems also to be transient, just like sentimental attachment it will pass us by - it rises and dies; and therefore it can never belong to the timeless quality of Infinite Love.

Love is not possessiveness.

Love may be experienced by us, but not 'owned' by anyone; for 'owning' Love would simply make it another form of emotional attachment. Those objects you might look upon as your 'possessions', such as your husband, wife, child or any other treasures that you feel may belong to you, cannot be claimed by you through the power of Love: these relationships are subject to limited life-spans - but Love lasts forever.

Having so far briefly outlined some of the qualities that I think Love does not possess, let me now lead you into some of my thoughts and beliefs about what I think the nature of Infinite Love may be:

Mediumship clearly demonstrates that the spiritual part of you does not 'die'. I believe your eternal survival is assured because your spirit is linked to some form of Infinite Love.

If you peer through the mists created within you by all of the previously mentioned emotional ties, what you may experience at the centre of your being is the Spirit of Love itself.

I believe that Infinite Love is a spiritual, mystical, enduring life-force that transcends the physical boundaries of time and space. It is ever-flowing and regenerative in nature.

I believe it to be omnipresent, omnipotent and omniscient because it is part of the very essence of the Eternal Spirit of Consciousness-Being out of which we originated, and away from which we can never be cut asunder.

We have issued forth from the Oversoul of the Universe. The Supreme Spiritual Presence has breathed Its life-force into us; and it is this all-pervading Great White Light that keeps our hearts beating and freely grants to us our conscious awareness.

Infinite Love is the essence of you, and you are part of the essence of Infinite Love. You belong to the Eternal Living Spirit of Love that is also known as Creative Intelligence.