Editorial: Happy Single Awareness Day!
Ah, Valentine’s Day. Grocery store aisles collect an obnoxious assortment of red, pink, and purple edible and plush goods while Christmas carols still ring in our ears. Elementary students try to find cool, clever Valentine’s greetings to swap with their classmates. Heart-shaped antacids with sappy messages are standard fare. (I mean, really – why do we still eat those things? They’re fine, but seriously…)
As if commercializing Jesus wasn’t bad enough, now we’ve commercialized love. The Hallmark aisle and channel will be dripping with romance, no doubt without acknowledging the God Who is love, or what St. Valentine offered in his life and death. Historical accounts are mixed regarding how many people named Valentine are remembered on February 14. What seems clear is that Valentine’s Day originally honored someone who fearlessly loved God and neighbor unto death. You sure don’t see many valentines about martyrdom.
I’ve been a little annoyed by the Western conception of Valentine’s Day for a while now. This irritation is perhaps greater since being in seminary. Folks that don’t understand my calling like to assume that I’m at seminary to find a husband. (Men at seminary probably don’t get asked whether they’re here to find a wife!) Anyway… Valentine’s Day might be a great reason for folks that are dating or married to celebrate their relationship, etc., but it can reinforce negative ideology, particularly in the church.
The vestiges of a toxic purity culture still give many young people the idea that, if they follow the Lord faithfully (particularly in sexual ethics), they practically deserve an amazing spouse. How negative is that to people who never marry or live to see their marriage fail? Singleness is not a condition that needs “healing” – it is something that God can use in unexpected ways.
What if we could foster church environments that genuinely appreciate the contributions of both unmarried and married folks? Can we create spaces for single Christian community without the “here are all the people you could date” undertone? By the grace of the God who shows us that love is greater than its romantic diminution, this is absolutely possible.
On February 14, I’ll probably be eating ice cream alone in my apartment. However, I hope you’ll join me in reflecting on the great love the triune God has for us. We see this love most viscerally in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. May our lives reflect God’s love – as St. Valentine’s did – whether our witness means long service on earth or surrendering our lives that we may gain Christ.
Without an author credit, I did a very simple search to find the editor of the publication – and, again, failed to find an answer. (I’m sure it’s not that hard to find, I’m just that web-challenged.) Anyway – I thought this was a great editorial. Thank you. 🙂
Hello John, this article was written by our very own incredibly talented student worker, Julia Hotchkiss. Thank you for passing along the appreciation and affirmation. She is a real value to our office on so many levels! -Tammy Cessna, Alumni Director
Appreciate a new lens. Thanks for this editorial Julia Hotchkiss!