Joyful solitude

Valentine's Day, a day when love and romance stagnate, I mean perfume the air. The origins of Valentine's Day are obscure, to be sure many believe that there was a Saint Valentine in which the holiday was inspired by. There are several theories about what this Saint Valentine did to earn an infamous day in History. Some believe that when the Roman Emperor Claudius II outlawed marriage for his soldiers- apparently bachelors make better soldiers- a priest by the name of Valentine continued to carry out marriages in secret. Some suggest that Valentine was a priest that helped Christian men escape the barbarism of Roman prisons. And still others postulate that wMy hile in prison Valentine fell in love with the prison keepers daugher. On the day before his death he sent her a letter with the salutation love your Valentine. Perhaps a more accurate hypothesis would be that February signaled the end of winter and the re-birth of the earth-spring. Mid-February the Roman ritual was to celebrate the Spring and usher in fertility by entering the cave where it was believe Remus and Romulus (founders of Rome) were raised by a she wolf. A goat would be sacrificed at the cave. Strips of its hide would be drenched in blood, a man would walk the streets of Rome hitting the women and crops with the bloody strips bringing fertility for the next year. Part of the tradition was for single women to put their names in a pot, a bachelor would reach in and pull out a name. That would be the woman he would spend a year with- often times this led to matrimony. It wasn't until the 1700's that Valentines as we know them became popular. Of course back then their weren't printed Valentines, Chocolate Roses, or heart shaped balloons. Rather people would make home-made Valentines for those they loved. It wasn't until about the 1850's that Valentine's cards became a mass market.

Which ever story of Valentine or reason behind his special day you chose to believe it has become a day of romance. To spend time with the people you love and visibly show them your affection. As a single person I had the best Valentine's Day ever today! Despite the flowers, balloons, chocolates, dinners etc that co-workers and roommates received. I was not the least bit jealous, not for one moment was I envious. I was joyful- absolutely filled with astonishing joy to see love poured out on others! I read posts and blogs about how much spouses treasured each other. How lovely to see peoples lives so intricately entwined.

I spent my evening toiling up a large ice hill in Duluth enjoying the breath taking beauty that we have graciously been given to enjoy! Praise God that he makes us complete. There is no chocolate so sweet as his amazing grace. No caress as tender or satisfying as his mercy poured out on the cross. No rose as beautiful as the wonder of his love. No relationship as deep or intimate as the lover of our souls. Praise God for the joy and hope that can be found in the folds of his righteous arms.