Yesterday morning minister-Lou quoted Russian writer Fyodor Dostoevsky, from his novel, The Brothers Karamazov: ‘Love in action is a harsh and dreadful thing compared to love in dreams.’
On Saturday Rachel and I went to Norwich to watch ‘Birdsong’ – a play based on Sebastian Faulkes’ book…
In 1912 Stephen Wraysford visits France where he meets Isabelle, who’s in a loveless and abusive marriage. They fall in love, sharing their youthful idealism, and their desperate desire to be needed. It’s Dostoevsky’s ‘love in dreams’.
The action moves forward to the war. Wraysford’s an officer leading a group of soldiers in horrific conditions in the front line trenches of the Somme. There’s gallows humour, hope-less despair and relationships that show Dostoevsky’s ‘love in action’. It was indeed ‘harsh and dreadful’.
Last night I met Paul. I last saw him several years ago – a strong, competent building site foreman with a wife and two daughters. Eighteen months ago Paul had a stroke and has never returned to work. He’s not the man he was.
His younger daughter was a difficult teenager, a school non-attender, with an uncertain future… She’s now in Cambridge, working on cancer research, completing her doctorate in molecular biology. He’d never dreamt of that! He’s a proud, loving dad.
His older daughter’s a single mother, living locally with her increasingly problematic. autistic son. Last night I learnt of a middle child, a reclusive son with significant mental health issues. Recently he’s decided that he identifies as a woman. Paul and his wife are finding it tough… Difficult love in action.
Minister-Lou also quoted St. Paul: ‘Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love… If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty give him something to drink… Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.’
Musing… Idealistic dream love, harsh practical love… in youthful romance, horrific war, unpredictable parenting… overcoming evil with loving, lovely, love-filled good.
malcolmsmusings.org 
Wonderful post!
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Thanks, Sara. The Dostoevsky quote has really challenged me.
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You’re welcome, Malcolm! Yes, I can fully understand that…it’s a complex subject.
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Paul’s youngest daughter must have been bored in her early years at school. Interesting post! 🙂
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The girl that I met years ago was very nervous and apprehensive, Nancy. What caused that I’m not sure.
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Good read, Malcolm. Love is so important for all of us. ~Ed.
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It is, Ed. Too often, it seems to me it’s dismissed, defined or discussed… without putting it into action.
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You are right, Malcolm. Love is too readily misdefined, or too narrowly defined, as physical attraction and intercourse. Love is so much greater and deeper and higher – and active, as you say. Reminds me of a song from nearly forty years ago ‘Love Is a Verb.’
Ephesians 3:18, “And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. You’ll be able to take in with all Christians the extravagant dimensions of Christ’s love.”
EXTRAVAGANT DIMENSIONS!
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btw, I was thinking of a song by dc talk from 1992 – Luv Is a Verb; not of the 2012 John Mayer song.
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How many of us just want love in dreams? But love in action, although difficult, is much more rewarding. You make important points, Malcolm.
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I think, as I’ve got older, Dana, particularly seeing couples in their eighties, and their love for each other, it’s a deeper love in action than I could have imagined 50 years ago!
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I feel the same, Malcolm!
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I love that verse from Romans – don’t just pretend, do it! Thanks, Malcolm!
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I don’t know about you, Wynne, but I know folks who are good at knowing about what they – and you – should do… It’s not the same as doing it!
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