The Wing-Beat

Spring on the Plains! and the Red River Valley. Well, not just yet, but soon. The weekend’s winds kicked up some 3-4 foot troughs on Texoma Saturday. They brought some more of New Mexico, West Texas, and western Oklahoma eastward, too, so there must have been a bit of dust-storming westward. I’m sure there will be more of the same in March. This year we have had “more” winter on the South Plains and the upper-Gulf Coast continental shelf. That has meant more rain than in recent years. But Texoma was still low. Other lakes are low. We need more rain, still. I hope it comes in the right places.

per-

(A prefix; connotes modification, intensification, as in perfection . . .)

My Dear, if I say you are gorgeous:

You knock my eyes out!

What if I say Hey, Per-gorgeousness?

Have I eyes enough to last? I hope so.

From the New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia we learn of three historical Saints Valentine, martyrs all in the second century; a bishop, a priest of Rome, and a Christian, possibly a priest, in North Africa. Medieval folk associated the Feast Day of St. Valentine, February 14, with the pairing of birds and from there with lovers or loved ones exchanging notes and gifts. So the 13th Century literature includes references to Valentine’s letters.

As with most traditions we have choices for celebration here, both of them worthwhile and affirming. Leaving aside the scattershot patterns of giving Valentine’s cards as children (though one might reserve a special card for some One), the feast (festival) day celebration recognizes the sacrifices of ancients willing to die for a glory far greater than themselves yet a glory in which they had been given a non-negotiable part; or Valentine’s Day recognizes the glory of men and women held together in a commitment far greater than the bonds achieved through their own (or society’s) strength and resolve. Of course at best I do mean Christ-ian marriage, and if we may not celebrate it on Valentine’s Day, then how could we be satisfied, or inspired, by anything less? How better to picture sacrificial love than in service to one’s beloved? Paul the Sent said no less about it when he described Christ as laying down his life for his bride the church.

You married men must love your wives, just as Christ love the church and gave Himself for her, to consecrate her, after cleansing her through His word, as pictured in the water bath, that He might present the church to Himself as a splendid bride without a blot or wrinkle or anything like it, but to be consecrated and faultless. This is the way married men ought to love their wives, as they do their own bodies. The married man who loves his wife is really loving himself, for no one ever hates his own physical person, but he feeds and fosters it, just as Christ does the church, because we are parts of His body. Ephesians 5:25-30, Williams Translation

On the way to Thanksgiving, one’s thoughts turn to . . . turkey! And other good things to eat, of course, and the importance of learning to see the glass as–not half full–but full to overflowing! My cup runneth over . . . .

Now, a bit of questionable inspiration–a limerick:

A variegated bird is the peacock, / His lineage is in no way commonstock. / But guess my amazement, / When I heard the appraisement / That peacock tastes just like turkey-hock!

That, many years ago, was the discovery of Christian workers in India who sought a suitable substitute for the Thanksgiving bird.

Going by the first day of a season, summer is the second season in the year. If duration counts, then winter is the first, spring the second, and summer the third. How do most people list the seasons — spring, summer, fall, winter, or do they start with winter?