If They Left Us in Charge

This morning decided it would like to be used for sending Valentines and I agreed straight away, not bothering to mention that the real Valentine's Day was ... um ... oh, a week ago, and now we're both giddy. (You should see the day here, shining bright and clear and hopping around.)

If they left me in charge, I'd institute a regular day for valentines, maybe once a month. Of course, I'd fiddle with the Mission Statement (much as I do with the real day). And I'd yank both sides of the aisle in for a little sit-down and 'let's get this straight' chat. Look, I'd say, people invented this and they did what they thought was useful so let's not complain about it or refuse to budge; let's just do a little re-inventing. We made it, we can change it. NOW we're going to include everyone.

Of course, someone would pout. "I'm not included. I'm not in a relationship," and I'd say, Nonsense and rubbish. If you're part of the world, you're in a relationship.' (And then I'd let them ponder it because there'd be so much more on the agenda we'd have to get through.)

Yep, that's what I'd do. I like valentines. They are a simple way to practice giving love. And, if you yearn for something a little more challenging, it can be about giving it when it's not easy. Easy is when someone lights up, wraps their arms around you and is eager to hear your laughter chime. Not easy is when it appears you get nothing in return.

Those are the BEST valentines. They're given freely, as quiet little acknowledgments that you recognize someone helping create your world. They're the moments when you actually care about someone else's story, when you care about the state of their imagination, when you care about them flourishing.

There will be plenty of people who don't want your valentine, who suspect ulterior motives, or who want their love expressed in a different way and it will be tempting to just pack up your love and go home. My love tends to like action and creating. I nearly say: Okay. Here's 110% of my mind and imagination. Let's get cooking! I assure you, this is not much appreciated by some.

That's okay. Not a chance in hell I'll quit giving it. I don't know what love's made of, but when it's exercised, you can hear dreams and feel the greatest good working its way out and you can almost taste the promise of a big, rich world coming your way.

Have to run. Valentines are waiting and I sense the day starting to pace ... :)

- from Cris

Oh! If you're not on Facebook, you might have missed some of the Valentines we posted. These are JUST the thing I'm talking about. Little messages to send and say: I see you and I love sharing this future with you.