It is February. This is the month of Valentine’s Day, Chinese New Year (Year of the Tiger) on the 14th and the beginning of Lent on the 17th. I am thankful for summer diversions. Movies are 2 for 1 on Monday and Tuesday night. Public transportation is available to the beach on the weekends and every night after seven PM, people take advantage of the cool evening to go out in the streets to play volleyball or soccer.
During the day in February, one might find relief from the summer heat by becoming the innocent victim of Carnivals. Carnivals, unique to Peru, is a summer prank where locals throw water at innocent passer-bys. They usually spare older women but anyone is fair game. Carnivals can be delivered in the form of a water gun, a bucket of water or water balloons. Most people take it in good spirit. Thank goodness scrubs dry fast.
As this is the month of love and Lent, I am reminded of how God is truly the only one capable of unconditional love. As humans, we are all flawed and struggle with our own limitations and ability to even fathom the enormity of God’s love. We never know how much time we have to make this journey. People are woven in and out of the fabric of our lives and they all add to the beauty of it. Since December, I have said good bye to 4 friends/ family and welcomed 3 new little ones into the world. One of the members in our community is currently in the U.S. She abruptly returned home to be with family for the passing of her grandmother. The time to love is now.
Valentine’s day in Peru is as much for friends as it is for lovers. So to my friends, I offer this Valentine. It is lyrics of a song I sung in the IW Chorale in College by Rufino Zaragoza OFM; The Cross of Love.
May the Lord bless and keep you
Till your journey is complete.
May the face of God come shine on you,
God’s gracious light increase.
May the Holy One with kindness
Look on you and give you peace.
Give you love,
To walk the Cross of Love.
No matter what difficulties in life you experience, may you always know and feel the blessing of God’s love.
.jpg)