According to a report from CNBC, the National Retail Federation and Prosper lnsights and Analytics, Americans will spend an estimated 14.6 billion dollars for Valentine’s Day.
Clearly, I wasn’t included in the survey.
I’ll hope that Trader Joe’s hasn’t sold out of their high quality $1.00 cards, and somewhere today, I’ll find appropriate chocolate for my Commander Supreme.
If Trader Joe’s is sold out of cards, I’ll use the stash of crayons, colored pencils, and markers that our grandchildren keep here to create a card for the love of my life, my Commander Supreme.
I always loved the title of the Beatles’ album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.
I think quite a bit about those words “lonely hearts.”
At 72, I’m much more aware of “lonely hearts” in the world today.
You might be aware that lots of data is out there related to loneliness.
Some report that 1 out of every 6 of us experience loneliness. Others report that figure as 1 out of every 5.
In 2023, the U. S. Surgeon General declared “loneliness” an epidemic.
I wonder how much of our loneliness is based upon the pace of the world?
Is it because our days move so fast that we become less aware of the lonely people around us?
Perhaps, combatting loneliness depends upon our hearts.
Can we slow our pace, can we open our hearts more, can our hearts be more attentive, can our hearts give more time?
Recently, Henry Chambers, an attorney and law professor at the University of Richmond, was our community guest at Pub Theology at the WayGone Brewery.
Early in his career, Dr. Chambers talked about a mentorship that he participated in at a local school. Some how, Dr. Chambers was able to build a relationship to bring a quiet, shy student out of his shell. It was Dr. Chamber’s patient heart and time that helped this student to move forward.
Yesterday at our church, we celebrated the life of Mr. Bob’s wife, Vickie.
Attending the funeral were numerous Hispanic students and families from Oak Grove Bellemeade Elementary School. Mr. Bob is surely sad and lonely from the loss of the love of his life, but on the tough days ahead of him, the love of those students and their families will get him through.
I wonder if any of the pollsters in America have conducted a survey about our hearts. What might we learn about our hearts?
If they framed a question about the hearts of political leaders, I wonder what Americans would say about their hearts?
Soft hearted soul that I am, I can tell you there might be a heart beating in the chest of some of our leaders, but those hearts have no love, no compassion.
I once had the privilege of speaking at our church during December. No pastor has ever set a perimeter for me as in don’t say this or that. Pastors are time conscious. My only guideline— stay within a fifteen to twenty minute time frame.
In speaking about the birth of Jesus, and the love that was brought into the world with his arrival, I cited a song from the Beach Boys titled “Surf’s Up.” The song isn’t about surfing or Jesus.
“Surf’s Up” might be one of Brian Wilson’s best compositions. The song features lyrics from Van Dyke Parks that will leave you scratching your head.
But for that Sunday morning in the pulpit, I was focused on the tag of the song. This is the end where all the harmony of the Beach Boys’ voices are woven together.
In that tag, these words are sung: “I heard the word, wonderful thing, a children’s song, have you listened as they played? Their song is love, and the children know the way.”
It is no secret that I love the artwork created by the students at the Trinity UMC Preschool.
Working with their teachers, these students have created some heart touching masterpieces.
On this Valentine’s Day, I wonder what our hearts might learn from our children?
They provide us a gentle reminder: “ a children’s song, have you listened as they played? Their song is love, and the children know the way.”
If we are going to make it in this chaotic world, we need to find the way of the children and their song of love.
It’s our only hope.
Happy Valentine’s Day
might be baloney 