Happy Valentines Day. I hope that it has been a good one for you whatever your circumstances; it can be a hard day for many. But what is love? For Valentine it meant giving his life in 269 for daring to marry Christian couples and tell the Emperor about Jesus. Legend has it that he healed his jailers daughter of blindness and before going to his execution left her a note signed “Your Valentine”.
Love is more than gushing emotions, supercharged with pheromones. While romantic love 💘 is important, the Greek word most used in the New Testament for love is agape, from which comes our word “agony”. True love has a cost.
340 million Christians around the world face rejection, imprisonment or death for their faith. Loving service to those in need or bringing healing can be a reason for suspicion or beatings, in countries such as India. It takes a lot to love when it is rejected and spurned. But as St Paul said, love always hopes always perseveres. Let’s remember all those who have difficult choices of love to make.
It was a great thrill today to see not one but two goldfinches. Along with a flock of Fieldfare and a Sparrowhawk chasing another bird it meant I reached 60 bird species. It’s taken about 4 months but I’ve quite enjoyed it and will see if I can get a few more. But another tick on the 60@60 list 🙂 😃 I also discovered I have written nearly 70 blogs now…
I said in my last post I would tell you about my Lent plans for the 40 days up to Easter. That will have to wait until Wednesday…I will keep you in suspense until then….! In the meantime enjoy your pancakes on Tuesday whatever you put on them!
Adrian@60 