A mentor once shared an analogy about love that has stayed with me. She compared it to the water supply in a house–a strong, steady, and abundant source. Most of us tend to go to the kitchen faucet for our water needs: drinking, cooking, cleaning, or just watering the plants. However, that faucet is merely a channel for the water to flow through. But the faucet isn’t the source; it’s just a channel.
“What happens,” my mentor asked, “when that channel is blocked or unavailable? Is there still a supply of water to the house?” The answer: the supply remains unchanged. Water still flows through other channels–the bathroom sink, the shower, the laundry room, even the toilet. Water is still available in plentiful supply, even if the delivery looks different than we expect.
That image has grounded me through many seasons of loss and change. During my divorce, after the sudden death of my dad, and while I cared for my partner through a major illness, I found that love never left. The channels through which I received it shifted, but the supply remained abundant.
This past month, our family experienced two deaths in one week. Once again, I was reminded to open myself to the infinite supply of love available all around me. It came in hugs from people that don’t typically hug me on a normal day. My phone was flooded with texts and social media messages of care and support. Love showed up through food, plants, and cards. Even in the moments I least expected and from unlikely channels, I experienced love.
I am grateful for the reminder: love is not scarce. It’s always flowing–we just need to stay open to its many channels. Sometimes it comes in a wagging tail or wet doggie kiss. Other times, it’s in the bird song in the morning or the gentle touch of a hand. Love is in infinite supply if we remember to look beyond the kitchen faucet.