Unconditional Love?

“You would see a flash in his eyes when people used terms like “Love” to describe their favourite meal. To him the word “Love” had been misused so often it was now corrupted beyond any practical use. To the Visitor, Love was a word reserved for the sacred, such as the spirit
of another person - not for chocolate or wine.”

— The Visitor, pg 3

If you have read the blogs up until today, and struggled with the concept that The Visitor is not just a Love story, but rather a story of Love, then today's blog should help you in gaining a deeper understanding.

In this blog, we tie together the concepts of the Visitor's extreme dualistic viewpoint, his views of things either being sacred or mundane, and his frustration with the inadequacy of language.  You will also get insights into the reason why Truth and Love are central themes, occurring over and over again.  It is the essence of The Visitor.  

Within the first three pages we get a glimpse of the Visitor's perspective on Love.  As discussed in previous blogs, the word Love throughout The Visitor is always capitalized.  Love is not used as an adjective, or a verb, but rather as a proper (or even personal) noun denoting something more than an emotional feeling.  As explained earlier, to the Visitor - Love is a sacred word, not to be used lightly, and as such should only be spoken from the soul.

Even for people who might be able to relate to the idea of how easily and often the word Love has been misused,  the Visitor is deeply concerned with the watering down the true meaning of a sacred notion (in this case the notion of Love) that it becomes meaningless.   

There is no such thing as unconditional Love or true Love, as that would imply that there is the potential existence of conditional Love or false Love.  There is only Love. 

One of the more popular, "innocent" uses of the word Love is found within the frequent and flippant quip of "Unconditional Love".  People use it so often, to assert a "strong" Love, that they don't stop to realize that in doing so, they give credence to a notion that Love can be conditional.   I myself literally cringe whenever I hear someone use the phrase, "Unconditional Love".   To acknowledge the existence of one extreme, is to acknowledge the existence of the other. Can you really have anything such as "conditional Love"?  If the answer is no, if it is conditional than its not truly Love; then it is also true that it is impossible to have it's antithesis - "unconditional Love".  This is an intrinsic example of the dualistic world view of the Visitor.   There are no shades of grey.  You cannot have "unconditional Love" without promoting through your assertion that there also exists a "conditional Love".  The fact is, the dualistic polar opposite of Love is hate...and any limits, conditions or anything else you may try to place on Love takes you away from Love.

This concept is really no different than when someone pleads they are telling "the honest truth".  Is there any other type of truth?  Is there a dishonest truth?  When did it become necessary to defend the truth?  As the Visitor makes it clear, defending the truth dilutes it.  

Notions such as "unconditional Love or honest Truth" pollute the purity of the concepts and notions behind Love and Truth.  You can't dilute either without it becoming something else.  A little white lie is a lie - not the truth.  And a diluted Love may be affection, or strong liking, or kinship, but it is not Love.  Love is pure, as is truth. There are no shades of Truth or Love.  They are absolutes.

Combine both of these bastardizations of Love and Truth and you end up with another popular quip that waters down and diminishes both concepts, the cute phrase of "True Love".  Really?  Is there any other kind?  Is there a false Love?  If there is then by it's very definition, it wouldn't be Love, no more than a false Truth would be Truth.

If you are able to say that you have unconditional Love for someone, than you are recognizing by that assertion the existence of Love at times being "conditional" - else why make the distinction?  And if you think you are capable of recognizing, endorsing or enacting a Love that is not unconditional, then simply put, I have to question if you really know what Love is.

Harsh? - Perhaps...

I understand that people don't really think about what they say, or really understand the deeper meaning of what they say, or even the implications or what they say.  They hear something, it sounds good, they repeat it. Innocent enough.

But when you give life or recognition to the idea that there is such a think as "conditional Love" by stressing at anytime for anyone that you have an "unconditional Love" then you are actually part of the problem of supporting the watering down of what is a sacred word.  Love.

This is the point of the Visitor when he is upset by people misusing the word Love to describe mundane things like chocolate or wine.  When you misuse the word, you make the word meaningless.

Besides the notion of Love being sacred, the Visitor recognizes how things may try to "pass for Love which are not, and tells the crowd to be on guard against such things.  In the poetic parable on Love (pg 33) we get a sampling of this notion.  Although the words you hear may be tempting, and may be what you want to hear - do not be fooled.

Do not settle for less than Love.
Such leaves you incomplete.
Do not be tempted by false Love,
Although it may seem sweet.

Stronger yet is the poetic parable on Truth and Honesty, where the Visitor expands on this idea.  In this parable, the Visitor describes how the word Love should stir from your soul (not from your mind), and never be used for describing mundane or carnal notions.  Even more to the point, the Visitor tells those present to take care of careless use of such sacred words, as it is the way of those who would trick you to diminish truths.  As such, using terms like "unconditional Love, honest Truth, and even True Love" simply confuse people.  

Never say “Love” as a word with no weight
Sacred words should stir from your soul
Nor should you ever speak dark words of hate
As dark words of hate take their toll.

When you claim “Love” in describing possessions
You diminish the meaning of your word
So when you say, “I Love” it may lead to questions
And your true passion may never be heard.

Such is the way of the tricksters
To diminish the truths you would speak
To confuse all your brothers and sisters
And to hide the truth you would seek.

Perhaps a simple notion.  Perhaps one you have never really even put you mind too; and your misuse of such words is no more than innocent ignorance.  But when you understand Love, and Truth, you will realize that there is no such thing as half measures.  You can't Love 99% any more than you can claim Truth to be less than 100%.

Love absolute and complete is not a novel concept.  The idea that Love cannot be conditional is easily understood by Luke 6:27 where we are told to "Love our enemies", no strings attached, no conditions;

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“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,  bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you. “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them."

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If you can relate to this concept, then you are well on your way to understanding The Visitor as not just a Love story, but a story of Love.  In closing, and to drive the essence of The Visitor home, I leave you with 1 John 4:8 to emphasize why the word Love is viewed by the Visitor as a sacred notion.

 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

Until next time,

Journey in Love

Michael Paul

Love - Stanza VII

All these things Love does to you,
Exposing secrets of your heart
So you may see in all you do
That sacred special part.

For those who are following the previous blogs (Interpretation of the poetic parable on Love stanza's I-VI) it will be easy to understand that the visitor is talking about Love as in the "entity" rather than Love as a romantic notion.

For someone not following "the story within the story" (the parable) it is easy to see how this line would be interpreted as meaning; "falling in romantic love has highs and lows, pleasure and pain, and all those emotional tides we go through while in or out of Love, which teaches us who we are."

That notion is not necessarily false.  We do learn who we are from our experiences, whether they are good or bad.  We learn empathy, we learn compassion, we learn through both our mistakes and the mistakes of others.  But if it is truly Love; it is never a mistake...at least if talking about Love from the perspective of the visitor.

Love Stanza VII - Line I : All these things Love does to you,

From the perspective of the visitor; he is talking about Love (the entity) acting on us.  From the pleasure, to the pain, to the sacrifice to the Grace.  This is not "physical" Love.  This is something that is done to us and through us our our journey of life.  

Love Stanza VII - Line II: Exposing secrets of your heart

It can be hard to look inwards, especially when hurting, and see the role our action, inaction, acceptance or rejection had in situations we may suffer.  It is easier to look outwards, and recognize the things that we didn't like, felt unfair, or when we felt betrayed.  It is easier to blame others.  

But Love, the entity (not the emotion) has the power to expose our true feelings.  In complete honesty and solitude.  It is not a judgement bestowed upon us, but the clarity of coming to our own self-judgement and acknowledging our role.  

It is rare that anyone is every completely innocent.  While the actions of someone else may seem more overt - there is usually some role each of us play in any situation where we may feel as though we have been hurt.  Sometimes its as simple as not being honest with ourselves and accepting things we should not have accepted in hopes for something else.  Sometimes it may be not paying enough attention to the other person or situation but rather being so wrapped up in ourselves that we lose track of both the other person(s) and the situation.  Sometimes it's as easy as not recognizing the hurt we may have caused someone else in the defense of ourselves.  

It's hard to be that honest, to see the role we each play in the losses and hurts where we feel like the victim.  But Love can help us see clearly.  

And sometimes it will actually take the guilt away, especially in situations where someone is innocent.  These are situations where someone else has power or control over someone else.  That power or control can be due to age, to financial, to position.  For example; it is rare that a child can be held to blame in any hurt where adults are involved.  The adult typically has the full trifecta of power (age, financial and position).  In situations where children are exploited the entity of Love can help them see they are in fact fully innocent. 

The reality is the "exposing secrets" according to the visitor will occur.  There is no escape.  This is made clear in numerous parables of the visitor, such as the one on Laws:

And following a law which is inherently wrong
Does little to lessen your crime.
And no matter how good and no matter how strong
We all must account in due time.

This concept is made even clearer by the visitor on the parable regarding Time; and actually may be seen or interpreted as a warning, or an accounting to the secrets within your heart,  Although in the concept of "time" the visitor is talking about how death is not bound by the physical realities of time (physics or speed, mass, velocity, gravity etc), the idea of an accounting and clarity at the end of life (in the concept of eternity) is cohesive to the message of understanding and accounting for the "secrets of our hearts" will occur:

When yesterday and tomorrow converge on today
When everything is, and always has been
Revealed at once, all you do - all you say
When all that has been and will be - is seen.

Love Stanza VII - Line III: So you may see in all you do

The idea that Love enables you to see in all you do, is the idea of a deeper honesty within yourself that cannot be hidden.  It is not the idea of being judged externally - where you will be able to account by means of any defense.  It is the idea that in reality, you really can't lie to yourself.  You can lie to others, and they may not know.  But the reality you know when you are lying to yourself, therefore, you cannot in reality "lie to yourself".  Love makes this very clear.  Love has the ability to make you self-accountable - in ALL you do (or don't do).

Love Stanza VII - Line IV: That sacred special part.

That sacred special part is that part that lives beyond the physical mundane body that will be left here on earth.  The reality is that Love allows you to see that part of yourself that is beyond the face you see in the mirror.  It is that part of you that grows within yourself.  Basically, it allows you to see and recognize your spirit in advance.  Love lifts the veil.  

This is the reality of the visitors message.  You know and can see behind the veil through the power of Love.  You don't have to wait until the crow comes calling for you.  

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I hope the message of Love as relayed by the visitor is becoming clear.  It is a personal journey of Love that we experience with others, but at the same time, it is to each and everyone of us our own unique journey.   

If you are enjoying the concept of the poetic parables within the prose of the visitor I invite you to check out the full volume of The Visitor; Book I of the Corvus Chronicles now available on this website (see Bookstore) or on Amazon, Indigo, Kindle, Kobo or by ordering at a bookstore near you.  

Until next time, I present to you the first half of the parable on Love, (Stanza's 1-VII inclusive).

Journey in Love; Michael Paul

When Love beckons, do not sleep
And let none stand in defiance of;
Though cost be high and loss be steep
Leave doubt behind and yield to Love.

As sure as Love will lift you high
To heights beyond your reach
To fully grasp; you must partly die
Self-interest must be breached.

And Love will drop you like a bird
Scorched flying near the sun
Do not the dizzy heights disturb
Love’s quest to become one.

For your body; it will bless
And guide you through all weather
While softly naked it will caress
Your body like a feather.

Then it will bind and chain and flog
Till you can take no more
And leave you stumbling in the fog
Alone - lost in amour.

Love will heal wounds of desire,
Then bleed you dry as stone
Love throws you into sacred fires
Where you will burn alone.

All these things Love does to you,
Exposing secrets of your heart
So you may see in all you do
That sacred special part.

Love - Stanza V

Symbol of Love: A Heart both Bound and Peirced 

Then it will bind and chain and flog
Till you can take no more
And leave you stumbling in the fog
Alone - lost in amour.

Stanza V of the poetic parable on Love speaks to the cost of Love.  

Love Stanza V, Line I - Then it will bind and chain and flog

There are many concepts all tied up (pun intended?) within this first line.  It is not the "pleasure" aspect of Love as portrayed in Stanza IV; but rather something else.  The idea of being bound when in Love is nothing new.  There are wedding ceremonies where the hands of the couple are actually tied together to symbolize the binding.  Typically, this is a binding that is entered into with freewill.

As the visitor describes in the section regarding Marriage, there are different kinds of marriage, but a marriage entered into freely, is stronger than earthly bonds.  

Where two souls unite, and become one
And God has blessed the union
Is born a life that cannot be undone
But made stronger by the communion.

Such a marriage is well beyond
The mortal laws of man
Such a marriage only belongs
To those who understand.

The idea of being "chained" is not necessarily as welcome an image, but too often too familiar.  There are times when Love seems to be more of anchor or chain rather than a source of uplifting strength.  However, being chained or grounded is sometimes not a bad thing (and I'm not talking about the 50 shades of grey notion).  Rather, there are times when we may feel "lost like a ship on the ocean" when we are being bounced around in uncharted waters surrounded by unfamiliar rocks which can threaten our own well-being.  At times such as those, a chain or an anchor can actually be the best thing for us.  As such, there are times that Love is an anchor or chain that keeps us safe and grounded, even when we fight against being held.  

As for the image of flogged; that is a reference regarding sacrifice.  The ultimate (perfect) human suffering in the name of Love was flogged prior to paying the ultimate price (sacrifice) for others (Love).

Love Stanza V, Line II - Till you can take no more

This is the reference for suffering which is part of the price of Love.  This is not just having to endure the hard parts; but actually being open to the concept of suffering Love.  This concept is also shared throughout the novel by the visitor; for example in the section on Joy and Sorrow:

The deeper the pain carved into your soul,
The more joy you are able to share.
And although that pain may take a steep toll
It’s from knowing, we know how to care.

As the image associated at the beginning of this blog on Stanza V , it is not a rare depiction of Love to see a heart that is either bound and/or pierced.  Typically we see such images during Valentine's day, with a story about cupid; but the reality is that Love typically is associated with the concepts of permanence and pain.

Love Stanza V, Line III - And leave you stumbling in the fog

To Love, you must be open to the concept of not only sacrifice, but open to the reality of loss.  Hearts can feel broken.  The loss a loved one is not so easily dismissed.  If you have ever experienced the loss of a Loved one, the idea of feeling alone, disorientated and stumbling around in a fog will be familiar.  Again, while Stanzas I-III on Love talk about "what Love is" and Stanza IV about the "pleasure" of Love; Stanza V is about "the pain" associated with Love.

Love Stanza V, Line IV - Alone - lost in amour.

Love, like life, we enter alone.  When we lose either it is a solo part of the journey.    This feeling of being alone is reiterated by the visitor in other sections of the book.  On the section regarding Knowledge, the visitor uses the word "alone" twice within one stanza.  However as in Love, although we may be alone, we are yet connected.  In the eyes of the visitor the dualistic extremes are easy to understand (alone/we are one).  

He leaves you to walk through the threshold alone
As we all stand alone before God
And lifting your gaze you will see we are one
And the division is but a façade.

The purpose of switching to French (amour) and not capitalizing the word (where Love is always capitalized) is again a literary device.  The reason it is not capitalized is that the term  "amour" is typically used to describe an illicit affair, sexual in nature.  While using French also reconnects the reader back to the earlier reference to the Phoenix and the Metz Cathedral in France (see previous blog entry), the real meaning of the last line in stanza V on Love is the summation of the cost of Love, especially an incomplete Love.  This recognition of the danger of purely sexual pleasure as a replacement for Love is also described by the Visitor in the chapter on Pleasure.

Yet do not lose yourselves in the singing.
Take care in refrain and response.
For while it is natural, beware what it brings
As the heart wants what it wants.

So ends the fifth stanza on the poetic parable on Love.  While the first three stanzas described a higher state of Love and the fourth stanza talked about the pleasure of physical Love, the fifth stanza is purely about the cost associated with Love.  

I leave you now with the first five stanzas of the poetic parable on Love.  Until next time, Journey in Love - Michael Paul

When Love beckons, do not sleep
And let none stand in defiance of;
Though cost be high and loss be steep
Leave doubt behind and yield to Love.

As sure as Love will lift you high
To heights beyond your reach
To fully grasp; you must partly die
Self-interest must be breached.

And Love will drop you like a bird
Scorched flying near the sun
Do not the dizzy heights disturb
Love’s quest to become one.

For your body; it will bless
And guide you through all weather
While softly naked it will caress
Your body like a feather.

Then it will bind and chain and flog
Till you can take no more
And leave you stumbling in the fog
Alone - lost in amour.

Love - Stanza II

In today's blog I will quickly review some of the personal intentional meanings behind the second stanza of the poetic parable on Love.  As indicated in the previous blog, this is only my personal reflection on the meaning of the words.  You as the reader may find a different meaning within the stanza.

LOVE - Stanza II

As sure as Love will lift you high
To heights beyond your reach
To fully grasp; you must partly die
Self-interest must be breached.

Love Stanza II Line I  - As sure as Love will lift you high

As discussed in the previous blog, Love in the terms of the visitor is more than just a "feeling".  It is a term attributed to an entity capable of action.  In the first stanza, Love (subject) beckons (action).  In this line Love (subject) lifts (action).

It is important to understand the meaning provided to Love as used by the visitor to get the greater sense of the parable.  In this line, the visitor remarks basically says its a sure thing that Love will lift you high.  That concept is important to understand.  It is not that it "might" lift you high, but rather, it is assured.  

The concept of being lifted high is a two part metaphor.  One is contained within the entire series and that is of the Crow.  The Crow, a member of the Corvus family (therefore Corvus Chronicles) is a bird which both is capable of flight (soars through the heavens?) and also walking on the land.  The Crow is symbolic across many different cultures.  Sometimes as a harbinger of death (a murder of crows), sometimes a symbol of "the Trickster", and sometimes an omen of change.  

The other concept is that Corvus is also a constellation, or part of "the heavens". (There is a whole other meaning of "Corvus" as in the constellation Corvus, but you will find very similar messages across cultures).  So the other meaning beyond flight, is that of heaven.

As indicated in the prologue, the novel is influenced by Thomas Merton.  As also indicated Thomas Merton was both an advocate for international peace and inter-faith understanding.  As such, the novel is based on the image of the heavens symbolized by both the bird (Crow; Corvus family) and the constellation (Corvus, constellation) as natural representations of international peace and inter-faith understanding.  These are concepts of a different perception; both those found in flight (a higher vantage) and those of spirituality (heavens).  Both also relate to the idea of "Journey".

For example: page 6 of The Visitor (Chapter Corvus) reads;

So how did he come to be here, at the beck of the crow and the call of the stars? If he had been asked, the Visitor would have simply smiled, knowing that beginnings are always somewhat vague, and it is only at the end that clarity begins. Today, things would become clear.

This sets the stage for some of the metaphors and interpretation of poetic parables within the book.  Basically, this is the ending (eve of death) of someone who sees through the vagueness which has plagued him throughout life except to provide a moment of clarity towards the end.  The beck of the crow (call of death) and the call of the stars (pull of the heavens) is a literal metaphor which together set the stage for this first book of The Corvus Chronicles.

Love Stanza II Line II- To heights beyond your reach

It is probably obvious to you now that the "heights" can be seen as both a different perspective (as in the flight of the crow) or spiritual (heavens/constellation).  

The reality is that whether it is the vantage of a different perspective enabled by the crow which follows the visitor, or the spiritual vantage point, that they are beyond the individuals reach.  However, in the context of the poem; with Love - they are within your reach.  Again, Love being an entity more than just a feeling means that there is an ability to reach those heights, but not by yourself.

Love Stanza II Line III- To fully grasp; you must partly die

There are many different interpretations of this line.  Probably the easiest to comprehend is in the literal translation of "you must partly die".  This is the concept of baptism.  In baptism, you partly die to your physical self at the birth of your spiritual self.  It is not surprising that many Christian churches still use "full immersion" as a preferred method of baptism.  In that practice, the person is full immersed in water (symbolizing burial) before being lifted out of the water (symbolizing renewal of life).

However, this line leads to the next line in a purposeful manner.  To truly move forward in a journey, you must leave something behind.  This goes as well for a Journey of Love.  You cannot remain in one place.  You must leave one place to get to another.  Each step of life requires leaving something behind.  Basically, life is a procession towards death, at least "earthly death".

Love Stanza II Line IV  - Self-interest must be breached.

Again we see the concept of sacrifice that was evident in Love Stanza I (Previous blog).  Self-interest must be put behind.  In various sections of The Visitor the reader will encounter this concept.  Whether it is regarding giving, or raising of children, you must let go of self-interest.

Again, this concept is found not just in society and in communities, but within various religious beliefs.  The idea of "the greater good" or the idea of "giving" or the idea of FAITH.  All require self-interest to not be the primary mover of your actions.  Even to the point of LOVE, sometimes you are required to think of the other person first, whether a parent, a partner or a fellow human being in need.

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Again, these are just perspectives of the meaning of the words from the view of the author.  They are not exhaustive or exclusive.  I hope that whatever meaning you might find provides you comfort in your journey.

Now for Stanza's 1 and II on LOVE together:

When Love beckons, do not sleep
And let none stand in defiance of;
Though cost be high and loss be steep
Leave doubt behind and yield to Love.

As sure as Love will lift you high
To heights beyond your reach
To fully grasp; you must partly die
Self-interest must be breached.

Michael Paul.

Love

The poetic parable on Love is found in Chapter III of The Visitor.  

This blog is the first in a series of blogs which will in part explain what the words within The Visitor and The Corvus Chronicles mean to me, the author.  (The Visitor is the first book in a series of eight books that together make up The Corvus Chronicles).

I am aware that there are different interpretations and meanings possible within the poetic parables and I would encourage each reader to understand the message unique to themselves.

As described in the prologue of The Visitor, the story may appear to be very simple, but it is not; and although I may have penned the words, the words are not exclusively mine.  

The Visitor is a complex read which contains deeper meanings interwoven throughout which the reader may not notice during their first reading.  The book itself  was written in a state of prayer illuminated by the peaceful glow of seven candles.  

The full poetic parable on Love contains 16 stanzas (64 lines) which stand independently but together weave one holistic message.   In blogging "The Visitor; Re-Visited: I will explain parts of the poetic parables from the book one stanza at a time ; and then present that stanza with other stanza's in future blogs so the reader can see how the story is changed when viewed from a more holistic (sic) lens.

It is important to re-emphasize that I am only presenting the first stanza at this time.  You may read the first seven stanzas of the poem on Love for free at https://www/michaelpaul.online  

STANZA 1:

When Love beckons, do not sleep
And let none stand in defiance of;
Though cost be high and loss be steep
Leave doubt behind and yield to Love.

STANZA 1 Line 1 - When Love beckons, do not sleep

The narrator of The Visitor explains within the book how the visitor himself felt that words have become somewhat meaningless.  Words like "Love" (which should only be used when describing sacred things like the spirit of another person, not chocolate or wine) have become so corrupted that they are meaningless.  As such, it is not surprising that the visitor does not use the word Love to describe only "a feeling".  It is not by accident that the word itself (Love) is capitalized throughout the entire novel.  This is employing an intentional literary device meant to push the concept that Love is not an adjective, but rather a personal pronoun.  This is part of the deeper meaning.  Love is not just a feeling, as it is an entity.  An entity capable of communicating or calling.  When Love beckons is really depicting an entity calling out.  A subject (Love) taking action (beckons).  

STANZA 1 Line 2 - And let none stand in defiance of;

The visitor advises those assembled to hear his final message(s) that when Love calls - pay attention (do not sleep) - and awaken to the call.  The second line of the first stanza is a message to respond and stay strong. It is the concept of Faith.  The reader will also recognize that the word Faith is also always capitalized.  Again, this is not by accident, but rather reflects my desire that people see Faith as a sacred word, which should always be capitalized.  

As described in the novel The Visitor, the visitor is described as hopeless.  Hopeless in the true sense that he does not believe in hope.  The narrator of the story explains how the Visitor had to give up on hope and anchor himself to Faith, and then explains the differences between hope and Faith.  In addition, within the line And let none stand in defiance of;  the visitor calls us to be aware there are external entities (people, forces) that may not be supportive of the calling of Love. 

These first two lines of the first stanza together convey a constant message found within The Visitor.  Within these two lines the reader is again exposed to the dualistic view and dualistic nature of the visitor himself.  The visitor views the world through extremes; such as hot or cold, in or out, black or white. Within the story The Visitor; the narrator describes how the visitor himself was unable to recognize the colours which reside within his black and white view of the world.  It was only when finding Love (with his Beloved) that he was able to understand the complexities within Life.  As such, one of the central characters in the book (the Beloved) is an important element in providing the visitor with his "missing peaces" (sic) which he shares on the eve of his death.

This concept of dualism is repeated throughout various sections of The Visitor.  In the section of Joy and Sorrow, the visitor describes how joy and sorrow are simply two sides of the same coin and both arise from the same place within your heart.  While one is awake, the other sleeps.  The same concept is found when the visitor talks about Love and hate.  They are also two sides of the same coin and cannot exist together.  The visitor often warns about how hate will choke out the ability for Love to grow, and how Love can conquer hate.  

STANZA 1 Line 3 - Though cost be high and loss be steep

This line in its simplest most direct interpretation is the concept of sacrifice.  It does talk about the reward of sacrifice, but rather the cost.  The reader will find this concept throughout the novel as well.  For example in the poetic parable on Freedom (Chapter IV of The Visitor - The Needs of Many)  stanza IX reads:

Even at costs that run dearly,
Like a cross / cross your back / on your knees
Then you may finally see clearly.
Then you may finally be free.

Here the visitor shares the concept of sacrifice when describing the price of Freedom.  While this particular parable talks about personal Freedom, by raising the awareness of others who have given up their Freedom to provide for the Freedom of others; this particular stanza however directs the reader to the imagery seen within "The Stations of the Cross".  Literally this is a description of acknowledging the ultimate sacrifice.

STANZA 1 Line 4 - Leave doubt behind and yield to Love.

The last line in the first stanza on Love circles back to the concept of Faith and Love.  To leave doubt behind is to have Faith.  With Faith, the Visitor encourages those who have come to hear his last words, to surrender themselves to Love. 

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Such are some of the messages contained within only the first stanza on the poetic parable on Love.  As described earlier, The Visitor is a complex read with very many levels of interpretation.  Remember however that this is only the author's explanation of his understanding of the words.  You as a reader may have a different interpretation, and that is good.  

After all, it is never about being right, but rather about uncovering the truth.

Journey in Love

Michael Paul.