"Perhaps Love Is Like a Resting Place, a Shelter from the Storm ... "

I watched a documentary recently on the life of the late folk singer-songwriter and musician John Denver. Like millions of others I loved his music. I remember taking my youngest daughter to see him at the height of his popularity, and going to see him years later when he was at a local university speaking about the causes he championed through his Windstar Foundation.

Of all the now-legendary folk classics that Denver wrote and made famous, the one that continues to echo in my heart and mind is “Perhaps Love.” According to the documentary, he wrote the song during the breakup of his first marriage. He recorded it as a duet with Plácido Domingo.

Like many others who have experienced the heights and depths of love, I am fascinated by the ways in which philosophers, poets and songwriters seek to plumb the mysteries of this powerful force.

Perhaps love is like a resting place, a shelter from the storm.
It exists to give you comfort, it’s there to keep you warm.

As I read the words on the Web site, once again the lyrics touched a memory that was connected to the breakup of my first marriage decades ago. My relationship was centered in the other person, and when it ended I experienced the heartbreak that comes from that type of ego-love. That form of love is based on the barter system of getting love rather than giving it, and is the most prevalent form of romantic love today. I knew then that there had to be a more healthful way of loving.

Perhaps love is like a window, perhaps an open door
It invites to come closer; it wants to show you more

I know now that by choosing to remain open and vulnerable to love and to learning its lessons, we can begin to truly love and be loved in a way that will make our hearts sing with the joy of being alive.

Perhaps love is like the ocean, full of conflict, full of pain
Like a fire when it’s cold outside, thunder when it rains.

The process of growing and learning about authentic Love may be filled with lessons that include conflict and pain, but the reward will exceed your dearest dreams. You will begin opening to the Love that has always existed within you. As you become consciously aware of this Love, you will open to truly loving yourself, and the Love will expand to embrace others. This is our true identity and is the antidote to the fear of separation from someone or something, which is the basis of ego-love.

Oh some say love is like a cloud, to some as strong as steel
For some a way of life, for some a way to feel
And some say love is holding on, and some say letting go
And some say love is everything and some say they don’t know

I believe that John Denver knew that we are one with the energy that is within everyone and everything in the universe, which means we are one with Love. I believe this is what we related to in the words and music he brought to the world and what endeared him to our hearts.

And even if you lose yourself and don’t know what to do
The memory of love will bring you through.

He knew that Love is truly the one sure thing in life that will allow us to experience the fullness of happiness – which is our birthright – and sustain us through the trials and tribulations of life. It is our natural state of being and the only real Rocky Mountain High.
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Copyright 2008 by Fern Stewart Welch

Perhaps Love
Words and music by John Denver.
Copyright © 1981 Cherry Lane Music Publishing Company, Inc. (ASCAP) and Dimensional Music Of 1091 (ASCAP)
Worldwide Rights for Dimensional Music Of 1091 Administered by Cherry Lane Music Publishing Company, Inc.
International Copyright Secured. All Rights Reserved

The author’s book THE HEART KNOWS THE WAY—How to Follow Your Heart to a Conscious Connection with the Divine Spirit Within is available at Amazon.com and other online booksellers, as well as through major bookstores such as Barnes & Noble and Borders.