Penelolpe

Penelolpe

Near the end of the 8^th century, Homer wrote The Odyssey. In his many exploits of the imagination, he told of a young and beautiful girl, Penelope. The territorial Greek, Gallic wars of that time lasted many years. Penelope's boyfriend, Laertes, went to war, and after many years, family and friends insisted that Penelope marry. This love-torn girl kept giving excuses such as weaving (she would tear out at night what she would weave during the day) but finally married Telegonus just before her true love returned.

In another article, I have written about finding the grave of Francis Thompson, St. Mary's cemetery, London, author of the famous words, Love is a many splendored thing.

One of the many mysteries of my life, how cheaply and carelessly people use the word “Love”. For instance, I love ice cream, classical music, old hymns of the faith, but these loves do not compare to the love involving my faith. Perhaps this is the reason, In the Greek, there are several degrees of love. The Septuagint, translated from the Greek by 70 scholars, knew the difference. Early scholars always used the Septuagint. When our resurrected blessed Lord on the seashore, questioned the denying Peter three times “if He loved Him” used the correct vernacular of love.

I am often confounded by the so-called love between individuals. My parents, grand parents, never expressed affection outwardly but, the oneness was always there. One man told me the best test to tell if a boy loves a girl, father loves a mother, in a group, the loved one is the first one to which one looks.

Marital love can be the most disappointing. “Talk is cheap.” It is truly amazing how love can turn to hatred at the divorce court.

Those of us who have visited the Taj Mahal, Agra, India, still considered the world's most munificent architectural marvel even if it is a burial mausoleum. Significant that it was built for the maharajas third wife.

In the community which I was raised, seldom mentioned but some older men and women never married. Every case, a true love affair with someone who either disappointed or died.

It is not rare for older men and women to marry a boy or girl friend of their youth after their mate, as survivors of the first marriage.

An older couple in a Switzerland hotel invited me to their table at dinner. She said, “Dr., I bet you think we have been married for a long time.” “We are newlyweds, his wonderful wife died and so did my wonderful husband.” The living, wonderful husband, at the table, said, “I was taught in the bible that there was only one perfect man. But the the bible was wrong, her first husband was a perfect man.

In the recent bitter disparity between the most anti-family president in history and his minions, contraception, abortion, homosexuality, nothing is ever said about love. Is love involved or is it like to dogs fornicating in an ally. Outside a military base, NC, a public whore house. The house was staffed by wives of servicemen... men, in uniform, giving their service and even their life to their country. Now all dependents of service-people get allotments for housing and other frills. Just think, women selling themselves, much as the temple prostitutes thinking they were contributing to the family income. How can people that treat love so cheaply face their children, their family-friends so and a Savior whose name means love.