There are three things that amaze me—
      no, four things that I don’t understand: 
      how an eagle glides through the sky,
      how a snake slithers on a rock,
      how a ship navigates the ocean,
      how a man loves a woman.
Proverbs 30:18-19 (NLT)

Tomorrow is St. Valentine’s Day, and how fitting that we run into wise King Agur’s contemplation of romantic love in today’s chapter. I don’t claim to understand it anymore than he did, and perhaps my life journey and my own plethora of questions only serve to prove that I understand it far less. Nevertheless, the ladies in my life will tell you (at the risk of losing my man card) that my heart has some pretty large soft spots. I’m a sucker for a little romance.

Scholars will tell you that the ancient Greeks had three basic words for the one English word “love.” Agape is a pure, spiritual love. Phileo is a fond, brotherly love. Eros is the love of sensual appetite. I happen to love all three varieties in life giving measure.

Today, I’m grateful for the mystery of love between a man and a woman. I’m thankful for my wife with whom I can experience a fullness of agape love, phileo love, and eros love. And, I’m looking forward to the dinner we have planned together tomorrow night 🙂