Venus Has a Sense of Humor

I'd like to share a little wisdom inspired from my beloved author, C.S. Lewis. In his chapter on Eros in his book titled ‘The Four Loves’ Lewis makes known that his usage of the name Venus will be used to depict the sexual element within Eros love.  So I shall use his term as well to share what, I feel, is just good old common sense.1

Venus, as we shall refer to the sexual realm of humanity, should not be maintained totally within the realms seriousness. There is very good reason that every literary culture in the world contains jokes about sex. Too often, particularly in the Christian community, we have avoided this arena as unholy and a possible danger to spiritual life. But might it be proposed, that a little light hearted laughter at the mistress Venus would be of less danger to the Christian life than the approaches of the past, which tended towards either total silence, or a reverential gravity that made it such serious business that even a wink would be certainly frowned upon. And may I also propose, that it is unnecessary to approach her singularly with the view of perfected passion that is portrayed to us in the best of romance novels and cinema. But rather to assume that the majority of people are perfectly right in their belief that Venus is in part a comic spirit.2

Venus herself can be quite an imp and will make great sport of us when we approach her on every occasion with such serious tones. We often find that when ‘the moment is just right’, as the television commercials tell us, that one or both of the intended partners, no longer seem so disposed. When we find ourselves in circumstances, where we could not possibly act on her imploring call, she will stir up passions quite capable of distracting us from all other serious business. An hour later, when the time and place are completely appropriate, she seems nowhere to be found; or at least, mysteriously, having disappeared from only one, of the previously agreeable parties. And this of course can cause all sorts of troubles. But, if we have any sense, we’ll laugh at her joke on us, realizing it’s all part of her game.3

When we take this subject, that tends to be treated in extremes, and bring it down to earth by facing it head on with basic common sense, we keep a proper balance. Not elevating it constantly to a place of unwarranted ideal, but at the same time, not leaving it totally trashed in the gutter. If we view it properly, we are able to understand that both can be contained, the sacred and beautiful, as well as the foolish and absurd, all within– our beloved Venus.