Loving is often not as simple as we imagine. On one hand, it brings warmth and closeness; but on the other hand, it also opens up a space of vulnerability that secretly makes our hearts hesitate to go further. Because of this, many people choose to keep their distance, hide their feelings, or refrain from getting too involved. Not because they are unable to love, but because they are afraid: fear of rejection, fear of being hurt, fear of losing control of oneself. We live in a culture that speaks eloquently about relationships, but often stutters when it comes to actually being present in them. In the midst of this situation, the voice of the Song of Songs sounds so honest and courageous. It opens not with doubt, but with an honestly expressed longing: "May he kiss me". A woman takes the initiative. She does not wait, she does not hide her desire. She dares to admit that love is not just a concept, but a need that lives within her. In fact, she praises her lover with language full of flavours and sensory experiences, as if love is not only felt, but breathed, tasted, and experienced to the fullest.

But courage is not born out of nothing. In verses 5-6, the woman acknowledges herself for who she is: "Black I am, but beautiful." In ancient social contexts, dark skin was a sign of hard work, a sign that one was not part of the privileged class. There was a potential sense of inferiority, a shadow of social judgement. But she did not deny herself, nor did she try to be someone else. She stands in her own identity and says: I am beautiful. Here we see something very important, about love that grows out of the courage to accept oneself. Such an attitude enables one to build healthy relationships, rooted in a sense of security within oneself. Without self-acceptance, love easily turns into anxiety; but with acceptance, love becomes a space of trust. It is no wonder then that this woman's longing does not stop as feelings and wishful thinking. She moves, she seeks, she asks: "Tell me where your brother is shepherding" (v. 7). He did not want to wander aimlessly, did not want to be trapped in the obscurity that erodes self-esteem. He chose to pursue clarity, for true love does not endure indecision, but walks toward the light.

Perhaps at this point we are reminded that what is often missing in our relationships today is not feelings, but courage. Courage to be honest about how we feel, courage to accept who we are, and courage to seek clarity in our relationships. The Song of Songs does not invite us to love in a way that is ‘safe without judgement’, but in a lively way, which involves risk, honesty, and openness. So today we are reminded not first of all to find the perfect love, but to be a person who dares to love: dare to open our hearts without losing ourselves, dare to long without pretending, and dare to step closer without continuing to hide behind fear. Because in the end, love never starts from certainty, but from one small step of courage, which slowly shapes us into a complete human being.