Remember the Four Loves and their Unexpected Risks

 C.S. Lewis, in his book "The Four Loves," describes four different Greek words for love that are present in the New Testament, each with their own distinct characteristics. The four Greek words are:

1. Eros: This is a passionate love, often associated with romantic love. It is rooted in Greek mythology, where Eros is the god of love and desire. It is characterized by a strong emotional attachment and a longing for physical intimacy. Examples of this kind of love are romantic relationships, infatuation, or sexual attraction.
2. Storge: This is a love of familiarity, often associated with familial love. This kind of love is characterized by the feeling of comfort and safety that comes from being around someone who is familiar and known. Examples of this kind of love are parents and children, siblings, or close friends.
3. Philia: This is a love of friendship. It is characterized by mutual respect, loyalty, and a willingness to put the well-being of the other person above one's own. Examples of this kind of love are friendships, camaraderie, or comradeship.
4. Agape: This is a love that is characterized by selflessness, devotion, and an unconditional love. Agape is often associated with divine love and is often used to describe God's love for humanity. Examples of this kind of love are selfless love, altruism, or devotion.

It is important to mention that these four kinds of love aren't mutually exclusive and can overlap with one another. For example, romantic relationships can have elements of both Eros and Philia.

Risks

It is also worth noting that each of these forms of love have their own risks. For example, Eros can lead to unhealthy attachment or an obsessive need to possess the other person, Storge can lead to complacency and stagnation, Philia can lead to betrayal or unbalanced relationship, and Agape can lead to neglecting self-care or codependency.