IN FEBRUARY 1995, Brigham Young University hosted a Valentine’s dance with a big band theme. A live band played 1920s swing dance music. A similar dance style, country swing dancing, had become popular, and my girlfriend and I had enjoyed learning to swing dance — she was much better than I was — but we both had fun on the dance floor.
I was especially excited about this semi-formal dance because I had just purchased a diamond ring. I had planned everything: dinner, the big band Valentine’s dance and then a trip to our favorite park, where I would propose on a footbridge.
After the dance, to my dismay, my girlfriend, Jen, decided she was too tired to go to the park. It was late, but not that late for two college kids in their early 20s. Since the whole night had been leading up to my proposal, trying not to panic, I said it might be fun to visit the park for just a few minutes. She finally agreed, unaware of my true intentions to propose.
When we arrived, we walked up the wooden bridge, I knelt down in the moonlight and asked for her hand in marriage.
We had talked about marriage before, and she had even picked out the ring, but she didn’t know that I had just sold my motorcycle so that I would have the money to buy it. (I used to joke that my motorcycle was now on my wife’s finger.) She said, “Yes!” and then realized why I had been so determined to go to the park at midnight instead of waiting until the next day. We were married on May 6, 1995. After almost 30 years of marriage, our engagement still makes me smile.
How is this an issue of faith? Well, I’m swinging around to it.
Jesus taught about a different kind of love than the romantic love we typically associate with Valentine’s. He shared a parable about a Jewish man traveling to Jericho who was attacked by thieves, beaten and left for dead on the side of the road.
A priest came by, saw the injured man and passed by on the other side. Then, a Levite — who worked at the temple — also saw him, but did the same. Finally, an unlikely helper arrived: a Samaritan. The Jews and Samaritans had strained relations, yet this Samaritan stopped. He tended to the man’s wounds, provided clothing and took him to an inn to care for him. Before leaving, he gave the innkeeper money and asked him to continue looking after the injured man.
Jesus then asked, “Which of the three was a neighbor to the injured man?”
The answer, of course, was the Samaritan. Jesus taught that we should follow this example, recognizing that everyone is our neighbor and that we are commanded to love and care for one another.
How can we be more like the Samaritan in our own lives? How can we show love, compassion and charity to those around us, even if they look, believe, dress or speak differently than we do? How can we make sure we are not the ones walking on the other side of the road, ignoring the plight of someone in desperate need?
Please stop and do a self-check if you ever feel hatred toward someone, a religion, a group of people, people of a political party, a race, a country or whatever it might be. Hate does not come from God.
We are given two great commandments that are very clear.
“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”
Whether we are young and in love, or enjoying the golden years, let us show more love to our neighbors.
Happy Valentine’s Day.
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Issues of Faith is a rotating column by religious leaders on the North Olympic Peninsula. Bishop Jason Bringhurst is the leader of the Mount Pleasant Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Port Angeles, ComeUntoChrist.org. His email is jasonbring@gmail.com.
