“You’re only allowed three great ones,” Sonny tells Calogero in the movie ‘A Bronx Tale’.
In this scene, a mob boss is telling his protégé that in his lifetime, he will come face-to-face with three great women. Three sparks will light up under him from the far reaches of Kismet. Three people with whom he can build a satisfying life. No more, no less. It is therefore imperative that he recognise them, and do everything in his power to turn that divine spark into a lifetime flame.
There’s something poignant about this scene. Something which points towards the finiteness of life, the momentousness of love, the importance of engaging life at our fullest while we have the chance.
This makes a lot of sense. If life waited for us to embrace the responsibility, sacrifice, patience and humility that cultivating a great love entails, the human race would be finished. To nudge us in the right direction, life strikes us with lightning, softening us to receive a great love.
When A Great Love Strikes
People come and go al...
