Thursday, February 12, 2009

heart and spirit





Are there differences between the heart and the spirit? I will say yes. Although the two may be synonymous for some people, I have found that not only are these very different, they can battle one another viciously. How can someone sacrifice their heart for the sake of spirit? What about the other way around? Is it possible to deny your spirit for the sake of your heart? Can one live without the other? These are the questions I've been asking myself. I may not be a philosopher, but I've been thinking suspiciously philosophical thoughts lately.

Consider the two separate (as I do) from one another. Your lover (your heart) is essentially confined to bed for health reasons, and needs care. This is a long-term situation, and, barring a miraculous event, is not going to change. You love to travel, get out and visit people, and explore what life has to offer (your spirit). To leave the person you love so deeply is to abandon your heart. To stay and care for him or her is to abandon your spirit. Are heart and spirit in opposition? Is there a meeting point? Or are they contradictory and you must choose one or the other? If you choose one, is the other negated? Can you live on spirit alone? What about heart? If your 'spirit' is sacrificed, can you live on 'heart' alone?

I don't have answers to these questions. What I do know is that, while trying not to choose one over the other, you need to be careful not to destroy both.