Valentine’s Day. Yes, I know it was probably started by a consortium of dentists, diet book authors and jewelers.
But, you know what’s good about Valentine’s Day? Besides the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, I mean.
It gets us thinking about love.
Love is one of those “I can’t define it but I know it when I see it” things.
And if you look closely, you can see it all around.
I’ve seen it this week and it hasn’t been in the movies, television or a pink emoji of an arrow through a heart.
It’s in the volunteer efforts of people collecting food for kids who may not get a square meal otherwise.
It’s in the joy that comes over the face of a two-year-old when his grandpa, whom he hasn’t seen in a couple of months, opens the door and comes in.
It’s in the waggy tails and wiggly backsides of three oafish, oversize, obscenely-spoiled dogs when “mamma” gets home after a long day at work.
It’s in the comfortable, each-is-the-center-of-theother’s-universe, ways of a couple in a hospital room.
It’s in the way her hand creeps into mine for no reason as we sit munching pizza in a restaurant.
Warning: If you’re one of those who absolutely gets turned off when people start quoting the Bible, this is your last chance to flip over to the jail log.
Okay, warned you. I promise not to preach, but this one is special.
Do you know about Paul? He’s called St. Paul by some churches and The Apostle Paul by others. In the church I grew up in he was sometimes called “Possle Paul.”
He was kind of a grouch. Started out by persecuting Christians, ended up by being one.
Great man, but sometimes it seems he was more interested in setting down the rules and regulations, and telling everyone how they ought to do A, B and C.
Lots of books in the Bible are Paul writing letters to all these churches telling them if a quorum are going to be at the Antioch Walmart at the same time they need to post an agenda.
Oh, sorry, that was the Rockdale City Council.
Then, in the middle of all these rules comes this stunner. It’s the 13th chapter of First Corinthians.
It’s about love. And it’s the best thing about love I’ve ever read:
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
“It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
“Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
“It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
“Love never fails.
“But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.”
And love goes on. Wow. It’s a little scary, too. “Love keeps no record of wrongs.” Do I do that?
Paul ends this way:
“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.
“But the greatest of these is love.”
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