'shut up and kiss me!'

Many scenes of people kissing introduce the movie 'letters to Juliet'.  One of the images presented was the painting 'the Kiss' by Klimt.  This painting was done in a gilded style. A perfect square, the canvas depicts a couple embracing, their bodies entwined in elaborate robes decorated in a style influenced by both linear constructs of the contemporary Art Nouveau style and the organic forms of the earlier Arts and Crafts movement.  This painting is breath taking.  I can imagine myself in that hug, being totally encompassed. At the time the painting was considered porn.  Crazy hey? how things have changed.  

In my opinion kissing is an intimate expression of affection.  It should be experienced in a safe place.  In a place of comfort and security.  Some people don't feel the same as me.  I think a level of trust and comfort should be evident before entering into such a special act, much like Klimt's painting.  

What interests me is the adjective and verb:kiss.  What is a kiss?  A kiss is to touch with the lips as a sign of love, sexual desire, reverence, or greeting.  Lips are softer than the face.  You also can't talk and kiss at the same time.  It is an act of surrender and tenderness, one is touching a tender place after all.  

Someone came up with the acronym, K-keep, I-it, S-simple, S-stupid.   Its a design principle noted by the U.S Navy in 1960.  The principle states that most systems work best if they are kept simple rather than made complex; therefore simplicity should be a key goal in design and unnecessary complexity should be avoided. The phrase has been associated with aircraft engineer Kelly Johnson(1910–1990).  The term "KISS principle" was in popular use by 1970. Variations on the phrase include "keep it stupid simple", "keep it short and simple", "keep it simple sir", "keep it super simple", "keep it simple or be stupid", "keep it simple and stupid", "keep it simple and straightforward", "keep it simple and safe", "Keep it simple student", "keep it simple, silly", "keep it simple and sincere" or "keep it simple and secular."

So how does something so intimate as a kiss form a acronym 'Keep it simple silly'?  In today's world a kiss can be entered into so lightly.  It is culturally acceptable to kiss a stranger.  People may say ' its only a kiss'.  Truth is it is most definitely complicated to allow someone to touch a tender place on your face with a soft part of their face and to keep it simple silly.  Please don' t get me wrong, kissing is amazing.  But be sure that both parties have the same expectation of a kiss, cos you don't want to be the one hearing 'keep it simple stupid.  Its just a simple kiss'. However, kissing is simple when two parties are one in thought.  

Worship is the translation of two combined Greek words (proskunevw) meaning "toward" plus "to kiss." Worship is directed toward God.  So to worship God is to turn our affections toward Him, to kiss Him.  Sounds strange hey?   But there is so much beauty in the awkwardness.  Proskunevw means to kiss the hand to (towards) one, in token of reverence.  The Orientals and Persians would fall upon the knees and touch the ground with the forehead as an expression of profound reverence.  

Lets enter into kissing as we would enter into worshipping God: with reverance.  

Love

Sarah***