Valentine Exposed- Love

Did you know the very first written love poem known to modern man is almost 5,000 years old? It was a poem a Sumerian bride would read to her groom on their wedding day. In its entirety, it's a little "erotic" but it starts with:

Bridegroom, dear to my heart,
Goodly is your beauty, honeysweet,
Lion, dear to my heart,
Goodly is your beauty, honeysweet.

Pretty cool right? As I think back across our human experience it is so beautiful to imagine the role the emotion of love has played on our history.
I'm not very religious these days but I totally understand the draw for true believers. There is something beautiful about a relationship with a creator, and especially beautiful when it comes from a place of innocent and sincere love. Similarly, love for friends, family, pets, and the genuine love we feel when we sympathize with the plight of the less fortunate and those in need come from such a beautiful place.
The world is indeed a pretty mechanical place. The universe doesn't need us to exist nor does this planet. Life itself doesn't need us nor does it require intelligent beings to exist; but I submit without us, without intelligent beings who "feel," who can remember the past and imagine the future, who can empathize, who can dream and yes who can Love, the universe in its infinite beauty just "is." The beauty of the universe is only appreciated when it can be felt. Emotion (and the ability to choose how to act on it consciously) is what separates us from all other living things.
I opine the two strongest forces which have shaped the human experience are Love and Fear. Sometimes people use love to evoke fear or fear to force love. But true love cannot be forced and is that most special and powerful of emotions.
Our holy books are full of versus citing the power and purity of love, such as in the Bible (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

The Buddha in his teachings speaks about the importance of loving ones-self. 

"You can search throughout the entire universe for someone who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself, and that person is not to be found anywhere. You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe deserve your love and affection."

Beautiful words from two beautiful faiths. But if this is all a little too much philosophy mumbo jumbo then let me end with the immortal words of modern poet Huey Lewis who said.

It don't need money, don't take fame
Don't need no credit card to ride this train.
It's strong and it's sudden and it's cruel sometimes
But it might just save your life.
That's the power of Love. That's the power of Love.

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