True Love's Meaning
In the 1953 movie, The Roman Holiday, Princess Anne embarks on a highly
publicized tour of European capitals. When she and her royal entourage arrive in
Rome, she begins to rebel against her restricted, regimented schedule. One night
Anne decides to get 'out and about' away from her normal life, sneaks out of her
room, hops into the back of a delivery truck and escapes her luxurious
confinement. However, a sedative she was forced to take earlier starts to take
effect and the princess is soon fast asleep on a public bench.
She is found by Joe Bradley, an American newspaper reporter stationed in Rome
who takes her to his apartment. The next morning Joe dashes off to cover the
Princess Anne press conference, unaware that she is sleeping on his couch! Once
he realizes his good fortune, Joe promises his editor an exclusive interview
with the princess with pictures for five grand. Joe Bradley shows her the sites
of Rome and he is initially more interested in a story that fetches him five
grand than the Princess, but begins to fall for Her Highness.
At the end of the day, through the magic of the nature both are in deep love
with each other, and for them the time comes to part forever. Now there is no
story for Joe Bradley to supply to his editor. His selfishness to earn five
grand at the cost of the public exposure of Princess Anne strangely disappears.
His love for her makes him renounce the five grand.
Similarly, our true love towards Him, once firmly formed, makes us renounce the
worldly aspirations and longings and we end up with the single wish to be with
Him only, forever. No love is greater than the love for Him.
"Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature
with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step
with the Spirit." (Gal 5:24-26 NIV)
Murthy Malladi