There is nothing love cannot face...

The BBC news website tells us this morning that Poundland have sold 40,000 rings in the lead up to this year’s St Valentine’s Day!  No expense spared for the person you love!

It many ways this date in our annual calendar is a funny old day.  Some make much of it whilst others, who are probably no less loving, let it drift by.  Its origin is ambiguous and the marking of it is varied.

St Paul’s poem in 1 Corinthians is, I believe, scripture at its best.  I think this poem about love is simply sublime.  It seems to come from no where yet instantly hits the spot with wonderful language and an understanding of the true nature of love that rings with the wisdom of the ages.

Love is patient, kind, envies no one, is never boastful……and so the litany goes on, and its genius is, I believe, that it puts ‘tough’ love right there alongside those ‘softer’ definitions.

Love keeps no record of wrongs, is never selfish and doesn’t take offence….not easy loving like this.  Yet the love that stays true and grows does exactly that; constantly giving and receiving second chances.

Today will be marked by plastic rings and expensive roses.  Cards will be exchanged with funny or deeply felt greetings.  However, for me, no words ring, on this of all days, with a greater or more profound truth than those of St Paul’s when he writes in his wonderful poem: There is nothing love cannot face.

Thanks be to God!