Love, everybody seems to be preoccupied by it. We have search for it time and time again, achieving and failing in the process. Some of us are left bitter, while others are ecstatic. But too most of us, we are just left confused.

But do we really know what we are looking for? We have defined love so much that it has lost its meaning. We use the word love so often that it is being “misused.” I have observed that we have defined love to our own comfort. Since there are so many definitions of love, we can shop for the definitions that suit us. Others are carried away by songs or movies; there they relate themselves to these love stories even if it is not applicable to them. And others have distorted love’s meaning to justify their selfish actions.

Speaking from a victim’s point of view I can relate very well with most of you when it comes to the topic of love. I have confused friendship and sexual desire with true love, which is also called agape. This confusion has leaded me to so many pains and rejections, still I did not learn. Like most of you, I too desire for that perfect love. That perfect love that would bring meaning to my existence.

But how do we define love? Being around people who live their life searching for love in all places, I can give some observations. My observation is; we define love to what the media or society dictates to us. Unfortunately the media distorts love’s meaning for their ratings. And we, the viewers, are left confused and sometimes mislead by what we see or hear. I know, because I have been there. I am a romantic fool.

These distortions made by our society and media have corrupted love’s meaning. It made jealousy, envy, possessiveness, pride and selfishness a part of love. Well I don’t know about you, but these things can cause anyone misery. Now I am just going to use logic here. I believe that “love” is God’s gift to us. Since God loves us, He only wants us only to be happy and not miserable. Now if jealousy is part of love, and jealousy causes misery, then God have contradicted himself. And I don’t think God would do that. God gave us a pure love, for He is pure. It is our human weakness that makes love lesser for what it is. Call me I idealistic for believing that jealousy, envy, possessiveness, pride and selfishness IS NOT part of love; frankly I don’t care what you say. I have looked to it in many angles and came out with the same conclusion. Love is a lot better than that.

Many of us twist and distort love’ meaning for our own pleasure. Some hide their fears and insecurities in the name of love. While others use love to justify their selfishness and weakness. And then, there are those who use love to get what they want. Amidst this information technology, love has lost its meaning.

This is my definition of love, and I have believed it since I was young.

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous, it does brag, and it is not proud. Love is not rude, is not selfish and does not get upset with others. Love does get upset with others. Love does not count up wrongs that have been done. Love is not happy with evil but is happy with the truth. Love patiently accepts all things. It always trusts, always hopes, and always remains strong.

1 Cor: 13:4-7

If we are looking for the “unfailing love”, we can only find it from its source. GOD.