Ah, Valentine's Day is drawing nigh. Most students probably have their thoughts turned toward that special someone, and they're most likely planning a special evening with a candle-lit dinner, romantic moonlit walks and sex.
Distantly, I hear a voice saying, "How do you know if couples are planning to have sex?" Look around, friends, and tell me what you see. Do you not see big make-shift posters around that boldly claim sex is the only thing on most students' minds? Do you not see walls plastered with sheets that have nothing but the word "sex" on them? Do you not know about the guess-the-number-of-condoms game that the Wellness Center is sponsoring? These not-so-subtle hints should easily warn even the most naive of people that sex is on the mind.
Why does it seem Valentine's Day invokes thoughts of sex in the minds of most college students? Could it be that couples are so "in love" that they must express this "love" in the form of having sex? Nothing could be further from the truth.
The sad fact is these couples (and I'm not referring to married couples) are in a state of lust and selfish pleasure. Simply put, sex is not love.
In fact, sex is nothing more than unadulterated hedonism when performed outside of a marriage relationship. Think about this for a moment. Guys, how many times have you bedded a girl you had no intention of marrying? And girls, how many times have you gone to bed with a guy, hoping it would strengthen his commitment to you, only to wake up and find that nothing had changed?
You see, love does not have these intentions. With lust, however, these intentions are predominant. You can deny it, but truth is truth.
This year for Valentine's Day and every other day of the year, I propose abstinence for those couples not yet married.
Ah, the laughter is quite loud. "Is this guy joking?" someone says. No, I'm not. I propose abstinence, because it is the only true way to show love. How? By refraining from an intimate act such as sex until you are married, you are saying to the one you truly love, "I am willing to wait to be with you and you alone." What greater showing of love and respect can there be than that?
Abstinence also shows that you respect your boyfriend or girlfriend. Guys, if your girlfriend is willing to give it up, then she's probably too easy for you anyway. Girls, if your boyfriend is pressuring you to have sex, then he really doesn't love you. If he did, he would respect you, right? Think about it.
On my finger, I wear a ring that signifies that I will not have sex until I'm married. Again, I can hear the jeering of people saying, "This dude can't get none. What a pansy."
Actually, I've had plenty of opportunities to "get some." However, I've realized it takes a real man or a real woman to resist the wanton urges of premarital sex. Sure, anybody can go to the Weed or any other place like that and walk out with a sex partner. It is not that difficult to do.
The point is that giving in and having sex outside of marriage is truly a gutless alternative. To have sex, just be spineless and flow wherever the mood takes you. However, to go against the flow of modern-day philosophies about sex and to stand up against the urges and pressures of flagrant sex requires true manliness or womanliness. Again, you can deny this, but truth is truth.
For this Valentine's Day, if you really want to prove how manly or womanly you are, do so by rising above the pressures to have sex. However, if you are hell-bent on getting sex, just remember how spineless and lust-driven you are.
If you want to show love to your special someone, withstand the desires for lecherous sex, and try showing respect. Valentine's Day is a great day for showing love and romance, so don't degrade it by throwing sex and lust into it.
Sex has its time and place, and that time and place is marriage. The hype for sex gets old. This year, try something different for Valentine's Day. Try showing real love. Try showing respect.