{"id":6273,"date":"2013-02-14T10:59:06","date_gmt":"2013-02-14T15:59:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/monkeymind\/?p=6273"},"modified":"2013-02-14T11:17:16","modified_gmt":"2013-02-14T16:17:16","slug":"valentines-feast","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/monkeymind\/2013\/02\/valentines-feast.html","title":{"rendered":"Valentine’s Feast"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

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\nA quick glance at Wikipedia drew together my jumbled memories and ideas of this holiday\u2019s origins and what it all might mean. Historically, such as that is, it celebrates a person (or two) of this name who died on this day. And\u2026 Well\u2026 That appears to be the end of the known stuff about St Valentine.<\/p>\n

After that he becomes the canvas for various people looking for someone to represent something. At first as an exemplar of courtly love<\/a>. Later, I\u2019m actually a bit surprised to learn, by the fifteenth century, individuals were giving their beloved tokens such as flowers and sweets on this day. I really thought the holiday was something mostly frothed up by the greeting card cartel. And they certainly have run with it. But, nope, its a solid and pretty ancient Western celebration of love and lovers.<\/p>\n

Not a bad thing, I think.<\/p>\n

Particularly a day to think of that intoxicating deity love.<\/p>\n

And particularly as it manifests between lovers.<\/p>\n

So, today, those who are partnered, I wish you the best in celebrating your partnership.<\/p>\n

For those who\u2019ve lost partners, I join you in the loss. Loss and mourning are without a doubt part of the deal of love.<\/p>\n

And for those never so blessed, <\/p>\n

know that love is a current that runs through the heart and while it may alight for a time between two, <\/p>\n

it is also something ever more lovely, <\/p>\n

And terrifying,<\/p>\n

and can be found adequately and truly in a moment of silence, or in the taste of a piece of chocolate\u2026<\/p>\n

Or, with a friend.<\/p>\n

True stuff this\u2026<\/p>\n

And<\/p>\n

Whatever\u2026<\/p>\n

In all that complexity, with the hurt of necessity involved, of the joy it brings,<\/p>\n

in how this celebrates our natural lives,<\/p>\n

May the great god love be celebrated on this day!<\/p>\n