February Emergent Matrix Meetup: Love and Romance

Announcing a new Meetup for The Emergent Matrix Meetup! What: February Emergent Matrix Meetup: Love and Romance When: February 9th, 2010 6:30 PM Where: Clarks Ale House 122 W. Jefferson St. Syracuse, NY 13209 315-479-9859 With Valentine's Day right around the corner, many of us have love and romance on the mind. But what does "love" actually mean? Is it giving candy hearts and flowers to your significant other, donating your time and money to a worthy cause, or is it even teaching a hard-learned lesson to your child? Tonight we'll explore the different definitions of love, and discuss our own experiences with love in our lives... Things to ponder: Valentine's Day wasn't always about chocolates and pink teddy bears. The beginnings of Valentine's Day began hundreds of years ago, in ancient Rome, when the emperor Claudius II banned the aiding of Christians, who were persecuted in those days. St. Valentine (or Valentinus, as he was called at that time) broke the law by helping his fellow Christians flee oppression, and by marrying Christian couples under God, which was considered a huge crime. Despite warnings, St. Valentine persisted in wedding young couples in the Christian church. St. Valentine was subsequently jailed, sentenced to death, and then killed for his acts of love and compassion. Today's Valentine's Day (February 14th) marks the day of his burial, and is known as The Feast of St. Valentine in the traditional Christian church. 1. Is love made up of the romantic paraphernalia of Valentine's Day, or is it more about giving to others purely out of the goodness of our hearts? Do you think St. Valentine worked more out of a desire to see young lovers married, or because he worked out of compassion for his fellow believers? 2. Why do you think that the term "love" has been hijacked by traditions like Valentine's Day, and left out of things like volunteering and donating to worthy causes? 3. What means more- a romantic gift that is expected (such as on Valentine's Day, or an anniversary), or one that is given for no specific reason at all? What about when we don't receive an expected romantic gift- does that mean that we are any less loved? What is one story you have to share about an experience like this? 4. Sometimes we show love to others in ways that are difficult to understand. For instance, when a young child misbehaves, and their parent punishes them to teach them proper behavior, is that love? When you take your hands off of the handlebars as your child is learning to ride a bike, and they fall over, is that love? 5. So many couples today are professing their love for one another, only to find themselves breaking up, or filing for divorce weeks/months/years later. What do you think is the difference between love and lust, and how can we tell the difference? See you on the 9th! P.S. If you feel like bringing some Valentine's candy to pass, feel free! I'll be bringing a bag of Valentine's Day candy hearts for us to enjoy.