Valentine

I'm way too tired and have far too little time to be writing.  But I have to give a shout out to perhaps my favorite person in the world right now.  Before anyone gets too upset, understand that my world consists of the 50 or so souls on this pitching, rolling, and sometimes yawing vessel.  In the freezer I have a new friend.  His name is Valentine.  Allow me to introduce him...

Valentine is a Mexican.  He is of the stock that makes me proud to be Californian.  I know that sounds snarky and silly.  It's not meant to be.  What I mean is that I appreciate the Mexican laborers.  The one's I have known have been in California.  Valentine is a cut above.  First of all, he is a hard worker.  But there is much more to it than that.  He also works with a smile.  It seems that he lives life with a smile, and that he has been for quite some time.  I can't speak for the others who work with and around him.  As for me, he makes me want to work better.  He makes me want to be a better person.

I was hovering at about a nine today for about an hour.  That's a mere 6% of my day.  Anyway, about the time I was ready to mentally collapse for a bit I sang the Rocky theme song to myself.  And I thought of Valentine.  No lie, I asked myself what Valentine would do.  And upon considering it, decided that I could do the same thing.  The Rocky theme song was a really big help too.

But apart from these mind games I play with myself to endure the day that include a role model, there is a simple goodness that I perceive in him.  Since hanging with Valentine, I've called on my God.  I wondered if Jesus looks at us as I look at Valentine.  This isn't to say that I can look at anything like the King, but rather whether the compassion I felt and overwhelming love resembles the most compassionate one's.  I nearly got emotional just considering the humility and goodness of this man.  Valentine. 

A few days ago, someone wore his rain gear.  The guy who did it isn't a bad guy or anything.  It was just a misunderstanding.  But Valentine's response was "I need to get new rain gear."  He said it in the most gut wrenching way.  Just talking about it multiplies my sympathy.  This may be rambling and incoherent, but I had to give my buddy his due.  He will probably never know how profound his impact on me is.  What gives me comfort though is the promise.  The promise that the meek will inherit the Earth.  On that day, Valentine will be a king.  And to me he already is.