All You Need Is Love

  It took me a while to write this one...
   February is full of holidays. 
  This past week we had depending on what traditions you follow 
   Imbolc the day of Bridget or for those who watch the slumbering rodent Ground Hog's day. Both of these are associated with the coming of Spring in their own way. On the 11th we have the Chinese New Year the year of The Metal Ox. On the 14th of course there's Valentine's Day. On the 17th Ash Wednesday. On the 25th Purim. 
    I'm sure there are many special days I am missing here. Whatever and however you observe them I hope your holidays are wonderful 
     As I write this we are now in the week of the 8th which ends on Sunday; Valentine's Day 
     There is a lot of confusion over why this day was named for it's patron saint. He was it seems a martyr. This we know. There is also a bit of confusion as to why the 14th was chosen. Some say it has to do with the Roman Goddess Juno a symbol of fidelity. Some say it has to do with the returning birds who will nest and mate though it seems way too early for that here in the frozen North. Whatever the reason it is a day known for romantic love. This can be a terrible thing for those who find themselves alone. The media and all commercial areas bombard us with images of lovers and expectations of hearts and flowers. This is fine for those in relationships and speaking as one who is I wish you all the best but what of the lonely? When I was a child like many of you may have done in school I exchanged random cards with classmates as a token of affection. It was a way to reach out and kind of silly yet...kind of sweet. We also were given boxes of candy hearts with those little sayings on them. How can we bring sweetness into people's lives in this difficult and often sad time? Here in Montpelier there is an anonymous occurrence every year in our downtown of paper hearts being posted up on almost every window and door. Whoever this "phantom" is they have become a local legend and no one has ever caught this person or their imitators in the act. It is a cheerful sight to see especially the colorful ones made by children. They remain for some time and bring warmth to cold days. Yes we so enjoy these reminders of beauty and joy yet...
   Love is not always pretty 
We must love all we are and all the broken ones around us. How can we do this? Jesus said to "Love thy neighbor as thyself" This is far from easy. How can we love those who hate us? How can we love those who are in this world of isolation invisible to us? Before all of this how can we love ourselves as the one who made us loved us? Such love requires acceptance and forgiveness. Without love for ourselves given without condition, embracing all the ugly places as well as the beautiful ones we can not know such a greater love for human kind. I say human kind because I am referring here to only that. There is so much I could also say about loving our fellow creatures who are also our neighbors. Here on this Earth plane we are given a remarkable opportunity to grow and to learn. Each day I pray that there will come a time where we will truly know the meaning of universal love and that we will know how to share it.
  I wish you all a blessed month