Just Love.

We all know that I'm in constant awe and admiration of my mother, Nancy Haensch. And I tell you, she's done it again. Two weeks ago she called me breathless running towards her departure gate at JFK, "heeey Anna, I'm going to Malawi for a month! See ya!" and I said "wait...what! You are? Wait, really?" She's so calm and cool about this now, I love it.

We've often talked about what it means for her to go on these trips, and what her greater purpose is. It's so hard to say, and to answer such a questions, it seems, would be tantamount to answering the purpose of life. She's a nurse, so she educates. She's a mother, so she nurtures. She's a friend, so she listens. But she sent a beautiful email today, that I think summed up her purpose, and mama, I hope you don't mind that I copied some of it here:

"Later this week I will be speaking at a guardians' meeting at Kwithu. (These are people caring for the orphans who attend the center.) You all know how I feel about public speaking, so I was starting to stress out about it a bit. I just decided I needed to turn this over to God...to help me find the words. What could I possibly say to these people, who have such a life of hardship and have taken in these orphans despite that?? "Just love them" was the answer I got. Ha ha. Can you believe it? Now why didn't I think of that?"

Just Love. It's so easy, and yet so difficult. All day long obstacles are thrown in our way to prevent us from just loving: stress, anger, jealousy, pride, selfishness. Love is like the balm for these harsh abrasions. How many of life's ills would be cured if we could take a step back, take a deep and cleansing breath, and just love. And this is something separate from Jesus, Chakras, faith or new age healing- I think this is just a fact.

Strangely, this very phrase seems to reappear in my life from time to time. I went to a fabulous talk by Julia Butterfly Hill, where her message was clear: Just Love. King Arthur, when he tries to woo a woman, he knows what he has to do: Just Love.

"How to handle a woman? There's a way," said the wise old man, "A way known by ev'ry woman Since the whole rigmarole began." "Do I flatter her?" I begged him answer. "Do I threaten or cajole or plead? Do I brood or play the gay romancer?" Said he, smiling: "No indeed. How to handle a woman? Mark me well, I will tell you, sir: The way to handle a woman Is to love her...simply love her... Merely love her...love her...love her."

(Guys, are you listening? It really is that easy.)

Oh, and on that note, Happy Birthday to my one and only, soul mate with the same name, sister in this life and beyond, and brain space lease co-signer, Annie Rorem. You are a beloved child of the universe!

<3