Inclusive Romance is an idea I've been thinking about for quite some time. The seed was planted a few years ago, I think, when I heard a story about pie.
There was a couple at church who, as part of the prayer team, were aware of not only all "church office" related issues, but specific congregation-related issues. That is, they knew almost everything that was going on with the congregation. Much of it broke their hearts, and they decided to do something small to mend the brokenness that was ever-present in the congregation.
Naturally, they gave people pies.
They would bake pies & leave them on people's doorsteps anonymously. Nobody really knew who did it, but it became a somewhat well-known & common occurrence.
So, what if we all did things like that for each-other on a regular basis?
When you date or marry someone, romance ensues. The individuals in the relationship, being full of compassion for each-other, naturally give each other things. Flowers. Chocolate. Love notes, a candlelight dinner. Even better, compassion leads to creative passion. Flowers delivered to you at work, chocolate on your doorstep (or a pie), Love notes under your windshield wipers in the morning, a candle light dinner on a hillside overlooking the San Gabriel Valley. This is the natural result of loving someone, longing to experience an intense unity with another person. Romance is what instigates joy and love in response to joy in love.
So what does "Inclusive Romance" mean?
Inclusive Romance is a pie-idea. It's about being romantic with your peers. Imagine finding an anonymous box of chocolates at your doorstep in the morning... or breakfast on fancy dishes. Imagine an anonymous love note on your car after class signed "Your Friend" or "Your Sister."
I think it's an idea worth toying with. I think its something worth encouraging. Let's be loving to our brothers, sisters, friends, parents, trolley drivers, and teachers. Let's be mutually appreciative & inclusively romantic.
