Grappling With Divinity

Love is not a posture
nor an empty promise
it is neither a word
nor merely a feeling
love is not currency
to be exchanged
nor a weapon wielded
for manipulation
or personal gain
love is a decision
a comittment
love is an act of sacrifice
dying to who you are
what you want
and what could have been
for the sake of the other
the object of your love
the beloved
love is freely giving
oneself over
to that which is loved
with neither conditions
nor expectations
even when it hurts

~Robert Van Valkenburgh

How might understanding love as a selfless and sacrificial commitment transform our relationships and interactions with others?