There’s more than a little confusion about who St Valentine really was… in fact, there’s the possibility that more than one St. Valentine (Valentinus) actually lived, at different times in history.

It is claimed by some that the celebration of Valentine’s Day may have evolved from an attempt by the Christian Church to “Christianize” the Pagan celebration of Lupercalia — a fertility festival dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture.

Much later, during the Middle Ages, it was commonly believed in France and England that February 14 was the beginning of birds’ mating season, which further enhanced the idea that Valentine’s Day should be a day for romance.

Though Valentine greetings were popular in the Middle Ages, written valentines didn’t begin to appear until after the year 1400. The oldest valentine still in existence in the British library in London, was a poem written in 1415 by Charles, Duke of Orleans, to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London following his capture at the Battle of Agincourt.

We send and receive Valentine’s Day cards to celebrate love.

Here is my Poem of the Month on the subject.

LOVE

It’s easy to believe there’s only one kind of love,
But in reading, you’ll find there are many;
All named by the Greeks, their subtleties explained,
And repeated, repeated in litany.

The many types all come back to the beginning;
Love doesn’t exist in a plurality.
The various descriptions are just manifestations
Of love, a single reality.

To lose yourself in another’s arms
Or in another’s company…
Or to lose yourself in suffering for
All victims, and there are many…

To lose yourself in any of the ways,
Some of which are described above
Is the only way to find yourself.
And the word for it is “love.”

Of all the powers love carries the most clout;
It has no counterpart.
Love alone can conquer the final bastion;
It can win the human heart.

But also it can be as powerless as a kitten.
By itself it remains impotent.
It needs direction and gentle prodding.
It can do nothing except by consent.

Ahhhh, January….

… that time of year when all the excitement of the holidays has come and gone, when the weather starts getting serious, and when we have the time to concentrate on….. yes, ourselves. Maybe we indulged a little to enthusiastically at the Holiday Tables… maybe we really do need to lose a pound or two… or get into the rhythm of a regular exercise program… or get after that store room that holds the box of photographs that Aunt Maggie left in our “capable hands.”

So, that becomes our New Year’s Resolution and we, each year, are bound and determined to stick to it, come hell or high water… We demand of ourselves an immediate success and when that success is elusive????? Well, the “hell and high water” win once again.

One problem is that we think we have to drastically change our habits in order to succeed at whatever promise we made to ourselves to be “better,” when in fact, we can only “Start From Where [We] Are.” By making small strides, reaping small successes, we organically and naturally flow into the habits that bring the success we so desperately wanted, but gave up on when the success was not immediate.

Remember, “time takes time…” and really, you can only “Start From Where You Are.”

START FROM WHERE YOU ARE

“Of course, you say, most incredulously,
“Where else would one start from, anyway?”
You’d be surprised at the amount of time
People wait for conditions to be okay
Before springing into action on the rest of their lives;
Before starting on the road to make things happen.
Don’t wait until you think conditions are perfect.
The opportunity to move on doesn’t come that often.

Start where you are and use what you have.
You’ll gain more as you continue to move.
If you stand still, the world will pass you by,
But as you progress, conditions will improve.

Motion is where your ideas will come from.
You’re your own rhythm section as you continue your way.
Your dance of life will move effortlessly
As you pursue your endeavors with an attitude of play.

Explore and thrive, always challenging yourself
To greater and higher participation as you grow.
Don’t sit idly by, watching the world whirl past.
Be alert. Join the dance. Be the flow.

With the Washington state elections nearly behind us (as soon as the last ballot is counted) it is perhaps a time to muse on the various outcomes. Also to contemplate the national scene where it has become an “us-and-them” environment of dog-eat-dog divisiveness; where neither side comes to the table in good faith to try to work through the differences and still maintain friendship… at the very least, decorum.

The thoughts behind the writing of “Respecting Differences” comes from a photocopy of an article by The Rev. Dale Turner, former pastor at University Congregational United Church of Christ, and newspaper columnist. It was handed to me by a very dear friend who suggested I write a poem about the subject. Reverend Turner‘s writing resonated with me, and now, more than ever, his message has meaning for us all, and for our country.

* The Rev. Dale Turner (1917-2006)... described as “A loving pastor, capable of strong stands.”

RESPECTING DIFFERENCES

Democracy is not the assumption of leadership
By the few who have won the election;
But is based on the wisdom, the conscience and participation
Of the many who will shape the direction.

It’s the give and take in our society that makes
Our nation strong and viable to the rest.
When everyone thinks alike, nobody thinks!
How we work together and communicate is the test!

Divisiveness and making the other person wrong
For having a point of view that differs
From one we hold is not the way to solve
Any problems. It just makes matters worse.

It’s not our differences that divide us. Oh, no!
It is our inability to recognize and accept…
That not everyone thinks or believes the same.
Respect for others will win! (What a concept!)

Respect for ourselves guides our morals,
While respect for others guides our manners.
Respecting others’ opinions does not necessarily mean
We drop our own, and carry their, banners!

Appreciating the similarities is the first step, I believe,
To communication between opposite opinions;
Then respecting the differences while in discussion…
Giving the relationship the most important attention.

The respect we show to others (or the lack thereof)
Immediately reflects on or own self-respect.
Show respect to people whether they deserve it or not.
It doesn’t define their character, but it’s yours it does reflect.

Speak your honest convictions and feelings,
And prepare to live with the consequences.
Remember to appreciate your similarities,
And don’t forget to respect the differences!