Love: Can it conquer all when emotions are in lather?

WARM RELATIONSHIP: Life's an emotional contest, with just one winner.

The emotions are racing this time.

This is often a two-competitor event between Rage and Silence, but the field now contains a broad range of all emotional types from Frustration, Rage, Despair, Jealousy, Narcissism, Entitlement, Anger, Hope, Lust, Love, Empathy, Compassion and Understanding.

As they line up at the starting gate, they will see ahead a series of hurdles and some difficult ground to cover in order to go the distance and make it to the finish.

Some are being guided by experienced life jockeys who have done this race many times. Others will be new to this event and managing their nerves. Going by the form book, those not handicapped by financial concerns should have a clear advantage, but, in the emotional stakes, there are always surprises.

Some emotions make a strong start, but fade. Others come from the back of the field at a steady pace and often do well.

The starter is ready - they're off and racing this time. Rage has taken the lead into the first turn, closely followed by Frustration. Rage is surging ahead pushing aside any attempts to overtake.

The field reaches the first hurdle. It is high, requiring a careful approach. Frustration baulks, tries and fails to find a way round.

Compassion and Understanding have dropped back to find a line and are keeping out of the way of Rage, who is now tangled in the hurdle creating danger to all around it. Hope pulls up at the hurdle to assist, but Rage abandons Hope and pushes, on taking part of the structure down as it goes.

Further back in the field Despair is languishing, but can see Understanding a few lengths ahead and lifts the pace. Love is at the back of the field, moving at a steady trot, and appears to be in no hurry.

The difficult ground in the back straight has surprised a number of emotional states.

Lust, spurred on by a sudden attraction, sprinted past Love early in the race, but then became bogged down alongside Jealousy and Despair.

Now Rage has lost all sense of direction and turned on itself. Compassion pauses to give advice, but is brushed aside as Rage pushes against Frustration, causing it to become trapped by the railing.

Entitlement and Anger are battling for the lead, with Entitlement edging in front by a small margin and Anger seething a few lengths behind.

Love and Understanding remain at the back of the field, assisting Empathy who started the race with an injury. They negotiate the hurdles and all three are moving carefully across the boggy ground along the back straight.

Entitlement has lost the lead after a tussle with Anger, which has left them both hurt and loudly blaming each other for the result. Frustration as given way to Hope and Lust has slowed to watch Narcissism look in a large mirror.

As they move into the final turn it is Love, Understanding and Empathy in the first three places. It could be a photo finish. Understanding has dropped back to second as Empathy holds third as they cross the line and the winner is Love.

Although starting from the back of the field and considered a well-worn clich, Love has once again triumphed over adversity.

Terry Sarten is a Wanganui writer, musician and social worker - feedback: tgs@inspire.net.nz or www.telsarten.com/