Hope:

Psalm 34:18: "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."

I know that definitely feels like me today. I feel broken and crushed, but the great hope is that God is near! He is near to you and I who feel the weight of loneliness.

There is hope. He is near.

Meaningless:

"Meaningless, meaningless, everything is meaningless," shouts the teacher of wisdom. And he couldn't be more right about it today. Today is meaningless, a chasing after temporary affection - an effort for a moment praise. If he were speaking his ecclesiastical wisdom today, he'd liken today as a fart in the wind.

Meaningless.

Guess what? Today will fade away and so will a good percentage of the relationships around you. How many times does this day have to come and go to make the world realize that one day out of an entire year does not make up for the majority of days of neglect or mistreatment? How many more cliches must I hear expressed between vain lover?

Meaningless..... meaningless.

One thing that we cynical, jaded, and/or forgotten singles can be thankful for is that we have saved ourselves a couple of dollars this day. I don't mean to sound cheap, but how many failed relationships do we have to be in to realize that the best investments are not monetary; that lavished gifts spread throughout the year can never buy someone's perminant affection.

Meaningless.... meaningless.

What seems more meaningless is that this day people come out of the wood workings hoping to buy the affection of those whom they do not have an established relationship, even on a friendship level. This may sound terrible, but if you're going to show love and encouragement, do it at some other random time, not when it's expected of you. I would rather something genuine than using this day to work your way into the good graces of others.

Meaningless..., utterly meaningless.

How many years must I rant, protest, and be confronted by my own bitterness towards this day before I and my like are vindicated? How many more days will pass by until the tables are turned and the players and users feel the guilty of their craft while the true-loving and upright be rewarded in their presence? How much longer must the broken-hearted be broken? How much longer must the unloved be without a lover?

Meaningless....

None of today matters if love isn't done out of Christ-enabled purity. It is all meaningless if we have motives. It is a chasing after the wind if we do for others to indulge in ourselves. It is meaningless.

Meaningless....

Meaningless.

A Fair Trade:

I've never been a fan of this day. Lately, I heard from a distant conversation someone state my mind on this holiday. It shouldn't take a day or another person to make someone feel good about themselves.

There is no incentive for a single person to celebrate this day. What is a romantically focused day for the relationally challanged? - a reminder of their singleness. But that is a different rant...

If this day was originally intended to be a celebration of friendship, what happened? Why does it take one day a year to recognize those around us?

I'll tell you what; here is the deal. As soon as I start receiving random appreciation throughout the year, I will start to celebrate this holiday.

But from the looks at what was in my mailbox today (a grand nothing... no different from any other day)... good luck getting me to start.