This is a poem I wrote after a wonderful vestry retreat with the leadership at St. Luke's in Blackstone. It was a blessing to be with them and their priest, Sandi!
Above is the Chinese character for love (Ai) which might thought of as a portrayal handing your heart to another. I like that it is a rather messy character that takes some time to get all the little "spatters" in place too.

The courage
To love
Humbles
Inspires
Terrifies
Souls us.
It is a rare thing
Given our ease
With speaking of love
When it comes to
Loving this or that thing
Or the people who easily love back
Or first.
This is hardly love at all.
When we love --
Truly love with
Tears and passion
Giving and loosing
Agonized ripping of the muscle --
Love,
Can we help but see
And know
Ourselves
More honestly
And stand stripped and in wonder
Before the stretched holiness
As it pierces our lives
With depth
And something too mysterious
To be mentioned with much clarity
Yet we know more certainly
When we find it
Like home
Or God
Or breathing
In and out.