How Deep Is The Ocean from Diana Krall’s album, Love Scenes*

Four years ago, I brought an iPod to India with ten songs that now number sixteen. While exercising, I’ve listened to them many times. Quite unexpectedly, this week I heard one song in a new way. It was Diana Krall’s How Deep Is The Ocean, whose title I had mistakenly thought was one of its lyrics, “How much do I love you?” But it was my mistake that started me thinking. Love is immeasurable, yet every response in the song, while poetically beautiful—is measurable.

I am only beginning to face the reality that love is without measure, as I love different people with different amounts of love. I have been practicing looking at all people as expressions of God, but having immeasurable love towards everyone seems far beyond where I am. Until twenty-four years ago, I lived only with romantic love. Then in spiritual training, I learned there was another love—God’s.

Recently I missed an opportunity for—if not immeasurable love—seeing God in everyone. A woman beggar had gripped my arm while I was walking and repeatedly put her fingers to her mouth (indicating food). In Marathi I had said “no food” then turned my shoulder and continued on. Later, when my friend and I were stopped in traffic, a boy begging food had come to her window, and she tossed him a bag of chips. I will carry a small piece of fruit or a bag of food after this.

My realization is “Immeasurable love is who we are. How long it takes to bring that into our lives is without an answer. A new direction is our opportunity.”

*Diana Krall is a Canadian jazz pianist and singer.