An alternative Valentines Day message
For Valentines Day I wanted to post up something on the subject love. So I thought I would share one of my favourite parables on the subject.
I am afraid it is not the happiest of stories, but it beautifully explores the themes of love, death, suffering and survival. While it explicitly deals with a young woman who has lost her child I think that many of us will be able to relate to its universal theme.
February 13th, 2010 at 7:36 pm
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February 14th, 2010 at 12:20 am
It is a challenge for most of us to move on from a lost relationship. It would make it easier if we also realised the prejudices we have about forming relationships – as I heard a girl regretting on NPR today :
there were men who she rejected who made good husbands to other women, men who peaked earlier than she was ready , men who peaked later than she did, men who she fancied bcos they were rock stars and ’successful’ but who simply wasnt there for her etc etc….finally she said that she wished she had chosen someone who was good enouigh instead of the perfect one and grown into perfection with him by investing wisely in him
February 14th, 2010 at 8:20 am
Great thought Herbert. Love does seem to be about “becoming” and is continually realized as the depth and trust develops. Since God is love I wonder what becoming and realization says about our understanding and experiences of God?
February 14th, 2010 at 12:12 pm
[...] Peter Rollins has a Valentine message for [...]
February 14th, 2010 at 5:39 pm
And we go on saying thank-you, thank-you, thank-you dark ‘tho it is – WS Merwin
February 16th, 2010 at 5:03 pm
Thanks for this, Pete. Much better sort of Valentine story, imho.
February 16th, 2010 at 5:32 pm
i think suffering is very closely related to the word of god. the word that we are told divided the night from the day and the land from the water. such a word brings division between even bone and marrow we are told. we rarely if ever think of the word of god tearing things apart yet thats exactly wot scripture shows it doing on a consistent basis.
i wonder…isnt suffering this way as well? maybe theres a relationship between suffering and the word of god that may be uncovered?
February 19th, 2010 at 7:03 pm
I have alwayed loved the transformative teaching present in this parable. It is so real and requires that we allow the lived reality of our lives to be our greatest teacher. It is a Buddhist parable that I first encountered in university 15 years ago while studying for a degree in Buddhist and Christian studies. Thanks for reminding me Pete.
March 3rd, 2010 at 3:06 pm
Beautiful. Thank you.