Love

We just celebrated Valentine's Day and I hope you got to enjoy time with someone you love.

I did, and I'm incredibly grateful for the people I have in my life that love me and support me.

Valentine's Day is one of those holidays that can be exclusive. It's only for people who have a date, a lover, a romantic connection. Or at least someone, anyone who loves them!

But for those who don't, it hurts. It hurts to see hearts and roses and chocolate and happy faces. It hurts to be lonely, to feel left out, to not be acknowledged or appreciated. It hurts not to have anyone say to you, "I love you. You are special to me."

I struggle with that: How to acknowledge that this is a special day for a lot of people, how to share their joy, and still not make it even more painful for those for whom it is already a difficult day. The same is true for Christmas: a time most celebrate with family and friends. But for those who just buried their husband, or lost their daughter to suicide, or haven't spoken to their brother in years - for them, Christmas is hard and painful.

How do we celebrate the special occasions in the life of the church without pouring salt in the wounds of those who are hurting? 

When we plan events for people of all ages because we want everyone to come together: We want to be a place where people from different generations connect and grow and have fun. How do we invite families and couples without making those who live alone feel excluded? 

You may be rolling your eyes and thinking, well, you just can't make everybody happy.

I know that. I experience that all the time. But isn't it our calling as the church, not so much to make everybody happy, but at least not to hurt those who are already hurt? To be a little more compassionate towards those that we may think are "too sensitive?" 

We just read the Beatitudes in worship on Sunday, from Matthew 5:2-12: "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God." 

As the church of Jesus Christ, we are called to comfort those who mourn. We are called to be merciful, and pure in heart, and to make peace. None of this is possible without compassion. (Which, if you ask me, is just another way of saying LOVE.)

So at the risk of making things complicated or difficult for those who just want to celebrate their favorite holiday, I will err on the side of love. I will include in my celebrations, in my preaching, my writing, and my prayers, those who cannot celebrate. 

It's what Jesus taught me to do.