Marking love for eternity over the Seine River in one of the most romantic places in the world, Paris, France, stands Pont de l’Archeveche Bridge. A bridge loaded with powerful messages of undying love. Bridges have significance symbols of providing a way: connecting cultures, communities, and communications.

Messages marking padlocks

Walking a bicycle path along the Savannah River in #Augusta, Georgia I saw locks, lots of locks connected to the head gates footbridge. At first, I assumed it was by accident a cyclist locked his bicycle’s safety on the gate creating a new tradition from other cyclists marking their path.

Drawing closer to the rapids I began perusing over the locks witnessing detailed engravings: names, dates and sweet messages of commitment. My heart began to race with joy eager to discover more of this unfamiliar act of love.

Locks of love represents a spirit of locking love for lovers in the form of inscribed padlocks for eternity. Padlocks either handwritten or engraved with names, dates, and sweet words become locked forever. Lover’s lock their padlocks to iron fence rails throwing their keys into the water to seal their undying love for each other. Locks of love, a sign of eternal commitment similar to the wedding band indicating infinity of a never-ending love. Something within me has stirred the moment I discovered Locks of Love.

I am drawn to the lock I claim as my own now through a photo. It is a feeling of instant connection to two strangers in a personal way. Strangely, it’s as though I could feel their hearts full of love through the touch of their lock. I want to trace their life, their love joining them somehow on their sweet journey of “Then, Now, and Forever.

July 7, 2013.“

Losing one's heart to someone carries a bit of a mystery only understood between two. A lock of Love’s romantic ritual is filled with a mysterious beginning. Fans believe this began through a teen romance novel written in 1992 by Federico Moccia’s, "Tre Metri Sopra il Cielo (Three Metres Above the Sky)." While other fans believe Moccia’s novel may have revived the locks but it began in China many years prior his novel.

There are four forms of love in Greek origin: Agape, Eros, Philia, and Storge. Agape is spiritual, a sacrificial desire every human yearns to receive within his or her heart. Agape is truly unconditional where,* “there is no greater love than to lay down one's life for friends.” Agape love is given whether returned or not without any self-benefit.

Passion's different forms

Eros is a sensual desire and longing for a physical passion. Sometimes Eros can be pure romance filled with emotions without logic and balance. Modern Greek word, “erotas” means “intimate love,” however, Eros isn’t necessarily always sexual in nature meaning it could be someone you love more than philia (love of friendship).

Philia is a dispassionate virtuous love. Philia includes loyalty to friends, family, and community. This type requires virtue, equality and familiarity. Although in ancient form, philos denoted a general type of love between family, friends, a desire or enjoyment of an activity, as well as between lovers.

Storge is "affection" in ancient and Modern Greek. It is natural affection, like parents have for their offspring. Almost exclusively, storge describes relationships within the family. It is also known to express mere acceptance or putting up with situations, as in "loving" the tyrant.

Many commitments are made that express total love-someone who donates a kidney, provides for bone marrow transplant, or someone who dies donating their heart to save another has given agape, unconditional, sacrificial caring.

Love doesn’t need to be confined only to Eros lovers. Philia love of loyal best friends can be marked by a locked love. Love of community, team or #America can unite in #Love Locks in the spirit of bridging gaps, linking borders or understanding different opinions. One of our strongest commitments through the love of family can be proclaimed in locked love.

My heart rises at the notion of Locks of Love surrounded by the mystique of romance whether in lovers, family, friends or sacrificial love my personal adopted lock has taken me on a delightful journey. This journey may never be fully explained or understood in their love story but their story has become a cherished fabric of my life in “Then, Now and Forever…”

My lovers, who stirred my heart, met in a physics class in Bainbridge High School.

They became “Engaged in 1967, planned their nuptials for 1971...life happened.” Yet, as their mystery remains from the years of 1971 through the dots of “Life happened,” I know for a fact, love remained between them. Forty-six years after their original nuptials were planned; they were married in Key West, FL at the home of #Ernest Hemingway. Physically united as one love on July 7, 2013 as engraved in their own words, "Then, Now, and Forever..." Love in any form we share can be evident forever. A moment of forever truth can be Locked In Love on an iron gate! Love never fails. Love transcends all.