At every phrase in our lives, we are moved by this four-letter word- LOVE. A concept that is so abstract and encompassing, both gentle and powerful, complex yet seemingly simple. This theme is used some time and again in songs, movies, stories, letters, text messages… it’s practically everywhere, omnipresent, evolving and growing with each generation. It is an idea we take for granted too often, believing it to be part of the natural course of things. Yes, we are all born to love. Yet we are not all born lovers. But how does one fall in love, to begin with? It is the perennial question, it seems: Do you use your heart or your mind? That has been the topic of conversations for as long as I can remember, always ending without one definitive answer. The explanations change, each is as unique as the next, no matter what age or race or gender. In loving, do we prioritize the so-called MAGIC or LOGIC? Some of my friends answered:
“Magic because it brings sparks to a relationship.” -Apple
“Magic! There’s nothing logic about love. It’s a feeling. It’s abstract. I guess if you prioritize logic, dili na siya pure ug true love..” -Mia
“Magic, I guess. Not everything has a logical explanation.” -Joy
“Dili pwede na pareho? Kay dapat mag huna-huna sad ka, di lang puro magic. But I guess if I really have to choose, I’d choose magic. Simply because I’m a hopeless romantic. Dili man ma una ang logic sa love, una man ang feeling.” -Diane
For many, the concept of love is automatically linked not with philo(brotherly/friendly love), or agape(Godly love), but with eros(romantic love). We are all wishing for the sparks, I suppose, of a “foot-popping” kiss, as Princess Mia in “The Princess Diaries” puts it. Romantic Love seems to be Love 101: An Introduction, a sweet appetizer that urges us to follow through with the rest of our meal. Yet this “magic” is not confined to romantic love. Interest keeps us going, keeps us committed, simply because we feel for a cause. We read a book or watch a movie because we can relate to it in one way or another. We involuntarily shed a tear(lol, ka relate ko:D) because we have been involved. We go to extra mile because we believe in the cause and feel a personal attachment to it. This is the magic of falling in love. <3
“Magic for me happens only in the beginning and fades in the end. Logic keeps you grounded at all times.” -Nikki
“Mawala ra gihapon ang spark. In the end, it boils down to companionship and attention. It’s up to the couple to bring back the spark.” -Ci
“Love entails committment. And you need more than magic to sustain that commitment.-Lara
In the end, there is no contest. It is not a question of which is better, which is more important. As with all things, there must be a balance of sorts. My personal take on it is that love begins with an emotion, and lasts with a decision. Being human beings, we are called to love. This call appeals to our hearts, our emotions that involve us and connect us to each other. At the end of the day, when we are tired and downright cranky, it is that knowledge and understanding of love that urges us to push on. When the sparks are out and we are left in the darkness, we are kept alive by the memory of romance and we choose to pursue the promise of another spark.
