Celebrate Love

Valentine's Day is supposed to be the day that perpetually single people like myself hate.  Is it my favorite holiday? No.  Do I hate it?  No.

Here's the thing...Valentine's Day is a day about love.  Yes, people make it about love for a significant other, and that's fine.  But just because that's what culture does doesn't mean it has to be what you do.  To me, a holiday about love is totally a holiday that I can get on board with, because the world we live in, whether we want to see it this way or not, has a heck of a lot of things and people to love.  So I choose to celebrate that.

I choose to celebrate a love for music.  The notes and words that together bring meaning powerfully into the world for all to hear.  The harmonies that bring tears to my eyes at the beauty of them.  The incredible unity music brings to a group of people who make it...and to the people who hear it.

I choose to celebrate a love for theatre.  The stories that come to life onstage and remind us that we are not alone in this human experience.--the emotions that deeply pierce the core of our being are not unique to us.  We all fear, have sadness, and even love.  Theatre shows that.

I choose to celebrate a love for creation.  The sky full of colors at daybreak and stars at night.  The snow that drifts softly to the ground.  The colors of fall leaves and the beauty of budding flowers.  All reminding us of the Creator, where peace can be found.

I choose to celebrate a love for people.  Each person whose path crosses mine.  The friendships that I carry close to my heart and remind me that I am never alone.  The people I know--both for years or for minutes.  The lessons those people teach me.  I celebrate people--the grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, parents, siblings, roommates, professors, teachers, and friends from every stage of life.  The love I have for the people in my life is more than I can put into words.

And lastly, I choose to celebrate a love for God.  And let me just tell you, this love is 109341857x different and better than the love for the things above.  The love He had for me and you when He sent His only son to come walk this earth and lay His life down for my sins.  But then Jesus rose from the grave and took away my punishment and beat death and WOW WHAT LOVE!!!!!!!!!!!  His love for you, whether you believe it or not, surpasses the love of any significant other or friend or whoever.  His love for you is unconditional, everlasting, and perfect.

Moral of the story...I don't particularly "love" Valentine's Day either.  But, I choose to celebrate love.  Because there are things worth loving.  And they are worth celebrating every day.