Sunday, August 07, 2005

Relationships: Love vs. lust

It is very difficult to find people who understand (and will admit) the difference between love and lust. Here are a few litmus tests off the top of my head:

If some or any one (of a given group, such as redheads or cowboys) will do, it's lust.
If only one (person in particular) will do, it's love.
If it's about your needs, it's lust.
If it's about your partner's needs (unless fulfilling them is about your needs), it's love.
If your religious teachings or moral precepts say one thing and your actions say another, it's lust.
If your words and your actions align, it's love.
If you say one thing yet do another, it's lust.
If you have recently experienced or are currently experiencing emotional trauma, if you are unsure of or unable to explain the full scope of your moral values, or if you want to but are not always able to say or do the loving thing -- then you are on your way but have yet to arrive and familiarize yourself with the territory of love.

Love has integrity. Lust spurns it.
Love knows what is the right thing to do.
Love does not know the outcome of all paths -- but it knows how to keep its footing in difficult terrain.

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