Q. A paraphrased comment from a reader gives pause for thought: As an artist who has postponed certain projects for over a decade, I have suddenly found new urgency to get back to my passion.

One of my relatives recently committed suicide, in my opinion, because of the choice to live an unfulfilled life. I'm now trying to use the knowledge gleaned from your Elegant Choices, Healing Choices in my art and thank you again. We have to win in our education of the young so that life is worth their/all our effort.

A. While this isn't exactly a question, it brings to mind some other, related ideas on the critical importance of love as a summons to life and work, namely...

From the senior executive Tim Sanders, at Fast Track Magazine (02/02 issue):

"The most powerful force in business isn't greed, fear or even the raw energy of unbridled competition. The most powerful force in business is love. It's what will help your company grow, and become stronger. It's what will propel your career forward. It's what will give you a sense of meaning and satisfaction in your work which will help you do your best work."

We can hear the wheels turning in some readers' heads: "But what about the money?" Well, are we expert enough in, say, raw talent for the things we want to do? Are we able/willing to market ourselves and/or our ideas? Are there guarantees that the work we love -- or the era that we're living in -- will reward us? No more than there are guarantees that the child, mother, father, spouse or best friend we cherish won't die suddenly in a plane crash.

Scary? You bet. Uncertain? Sure. But hide from love? Can't do it! Love is life. If we try to avoid love then, like Jesus taught, we forfeit our very life: "If you try to save your life (i.e., protect it from risk, disappointment or uncertainty), you lose it." (Matt. 16:25)

The reader quoted above proves the point so poignantly, and we are grateful for the email.