Loving Completely, But Without Complete Understanding

The following quotation comes from a final scene in the movie, "A River Runs Through It." In it an aged pastor, one of the major characters in the film, waxes eloquent behind his pulpit. I can so well identify with his words. The scene is introduced by his son.

 

 

l remember the last sermon

 

l heard him give

                  

… not long before his own death.

 

Each one of us here today will,

 

at one time in our lives

 

… look upon a loved one who is in need

 

and ask the same question.

 

"We are willing to help, Lord...

 

but what, if anything, is needed?"

 

It is true we can seldom help

 

those closest to us.              

 

Either we don't know what part

 

of ourselves to give

 

… or more often than not,

 

the part we have to give

 

…is not wanted.

 

And so it is those we live with

 

and should know who elude us

 

… but we can still love them.

 

We can love completely

    

… without complete understanding.