Love doesn't make the world go 'round. Love is what makes the

"Love doesn't make the world go 'round. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile." Ah, these words from Franklin P. Jones resonate deeply, for they call us to understand that love is not the engine of the world, but the spark that ignites our journey through it. The world, with its cycles and endless motions, spins not by the power of love alone. No, the forces of time, of nature, of human ambition move us ever forward. Yet, what makes this journey meaningful, what gives it depth and purpose, is the love that accompanies us on the ride. Love is not the wind that propels the ship; it is the warmth of the sun that makes the voyage joyful.

Think of the great Odysseus, who journeyed across the seas for twenty long years to return to his beloved Penelope. The storm, the winds, and the gods themselves conspired against him, yet it was the thought of Penelope’s love that kept his heart alive through the many trials. The world, as it spun on its axis, brought him sorrow, but it was love that brought him the courage to endure. Love did not make the seas part, nor did it make the winds still. But it was love that made the journey worthwhile, that filled each painful step with hope, and that gave him a reason to strive.

Similarly, consider the legendary bond between Alexander the Great and his horse Bucephalus. Their love was not the kind of love that moved armies or toppled kingdoms—it was a love born of mutual respect, trust, and devotion. Alexander’s conquests stretched far and wide, but it was not the military might alone that made his journey so poignant; it was the companionship, the love he felt for his steed, that made each victory sweeter, each hardship bearable. Love was not the force that shaped his destiny, but it was the force that made each step of that destiny worth the taking. Love, in all its forms, makes the ride worthwhile, even as we march forward through the hardships of life.

We see this truth in the lives of countless individuals who, though they may not have been the movers and shakers of the world, found joy and meaning in the small moments of love. The humble Martin Luther King Jr., whose dream of a just and equal world was propelled by the love he held for humanity, was not moved by mere ambition. He was driven by a love so profound that it transcended politics, race, and power. Though he fought tirelessly for civil rights, it was the love for his people, for justice, and for his own vision of a better world that made his struggle worthwhile. Love was not the cause of his efforts, but it was the reason he persevered.

And yet, many might look at their lives and feel the weight of the world—their work, their ambitions, their endless striving. Love does not make these burdens disappear. But it transforms them, giving us the strength to carry them, giving us moments of light in the darkest of days. Love is the lens through which we see the world, not in terms of what we must do, but in terms of what we are willing to do. It is love that makes the ordinary extraordinary, that turns simple acts of kindness into moments of profound significance.

The lesson here, dear ones, is that while the world may move and turn by the forces of necessity, love is the force that imbues it with meaning. The ride through life will always have its struggles, its twists and turns, but it is love that makes those very struggles bearable. Without love, the world is just a cycle of actions and events, moving in predictable patterns. But with love, we find purpose and joy in the journey, we see beauty even in hardship, and we find meaning even in the mundane.

Thus, I urge you, beloved ones: love deeply—love with abandon, love with a heart unguarded, for it is through love that we truly live. Seek not the grand ambitions that the world sets before you, but the moments of love that make those ambitions worth pursuing. Let your love for others, for life, and for the journey itself fill your heart and guide your steps. And in doing so, you will find that, even in the trials and tribulations, the ride itself is worth every moment. For in the end, love is not the force that makes the world go 'round, but it is the force that makes the ride a journey worth taking.