Happy Valentines Day

Flowers.

Candy.

A Card.

Those little hearts, with the cute sayings (BE MINE).

Red hots, Red roses. Heart Shaped images.

You can look into why we celebrate Valentines Day. From stories of St. Valentine serving as a priest in the 3rd century under Emperor Claudius III and marring young soldiers against the Emperor's decree (the Emperor being sure that single men were better soldiers), leading to his death at the hand of the Emperor.

Or that St. Valentine sent a letter from prison to a young girl he fell in love with, signing it "from your Valentine". Or the combined Christian/Roman begining of spring period of "purification" festivals, stories of fertility, sacrifices, choosing names from an urn and marrying young couples. Or, my personal favorite, that February 14th is the beginning of birds mating season, and hence should be considered a day of romance.

Or if you are cynical, it is for the commerce. Valentines is the 2nd busiest card day (behind Christmas) and floral shops, chocolatiers, and candy shops all around benefit greatly from the traditions surrounding the day.

But we celebrate Valentines Day to remind us. To Love. To feel the pleasure, the pain. To be outside ourselves, for another. To love is to feel, and feel deeply.

It is easy to forget. To look around, the trauma, disease, disaster, suffering. To go through life, inward, self, day by day, task by task, from one place to another. Bills, unexpected repairs, rising costs.

But love is much stronger. Love can cure all. Love deeply, fully. Love those you are unlike, love for others. If everyone loved each other a bit more, loved a bit more completely, imagine the overall effects -- worldwide.

On this Valentine -- remember those you love. Remember to tell them, honestly tell them, how much you love them. You have a role model in your attempt. Go ahead. Love.

For he so loved the world he gave his only son

Love to all. On this Valentines Day.