Is God Romancing Us?
Steve Fuller over at A Better Way has a great post today about a college professor that chose to retire in order to take care of his ailing wife, who is suffering from Alzheimer’s. There’s a video you can watch on his post or here. Either way, watch the video. It’s short and completely worth it. By the end, all I could say was “That’s the most romantic thing I’ve ever heard.”
And as Fuller’s post says, “Some of us have forgotten who God is; others of us have never known. Either way, he knows who you are, and he has promised to be there for you.” And I asked myself, isn’t all God’s doing is romancing us? Trying to get our attention so we can see just how amazing he is? Sacrificing himself so I can live an blessed (not necessarily happy or easy) life? Isn’t all he’s doing is trying to open our hearts to his love?
I’ve been reading a fiction book entitled The Art of Standing Still by Peggy Culliford. It was the title that intrigued me, enough to pick it up among so many other books on the shelf. I don’t feel as though I have a stressful, crazy-busy life. It’s simple, predictable, comfortable. But is that what I want in my romance with God? Do I want to know exactly what God’s going to do with me next? (Well, kind of… if I’m being honest.) Do I want the same thing day after day? I don’t think I do, and I know for sure that I don’t want that in any kind of romance. It might be safe, but it won’t be good. And our God is the opposite of that.
At the same time, I need to learn how to stand still. Otherwise I won’t notice what he’s trying to tell me, show me, teach me. I won’t notice him loving me. And there is nothing more selfish than ignoring love. In this area of my life, and probably many others, I am the most selfish person on the planet.
By the way: Organic chocolate milk rocks my sauce. Not a great ending to this post, I realize. But it’s my glass right now and I’m enjoying it immensely.
And the Award Goes to…
For the lamest, most insensitive newspaper quote ever: the award goes to Lt. Dennis Lewis of the Kearney Police Department.
Kearney’s longest known transient died last weekend after being hit by a pickup. And what does the police department have to say about it? “It’s like the end of an era.”
No, it’s the end of a life, you idiot.
Rest the rest of the story here.
I’m in a Waterdeep Mood
An all Waterdeep mix is on my ipod. I cannot help but empty my head of the crap that’s filled it today, sit back and let the mellow wash over me. Ah, how I’ve missed them. Please get back into the studio someday, Waterdeep.
Speaking of music, I heard yet another cover of yet another worship song on the radio today. If I hear another version of “You’re Worthy of My Praise” “In Christ Alone” “Shout to the Lord” “Above All” “Breathe” or “God of Wonders” I will throw up. As great as our God is, why do we keep recycling the same songs over and over again? There is so much more about him that has yet to be written.
I will happily drift away to the sound of Don’s voice.
“… I finally found the way to live. In the presence of the Lord…”
No children? Then no marriage
Proponents of same-sex marriage have introduced an initiative that would put a whole new twist on traditional unions between men and women: It would require heterosexual couples to have children within three years or else have their marriages annulled.Initiative 957 was filed by the Washington Defense of Marriage Alliance, which was formed last summer after the state Supreme Court upheld Washington’s ban on same-sex marriage.
Read the rest of the story here.
I love that this initiative is happening in Washington. Why? One of my close friends from college and his partner live there. And they just got engaged. I’m so happy that he’s found someone who he loves and who loves him back. It’s not easy to find that, no matter your sexual orientation.
I hope this initiative spurs on the discussion that so many are afraid to have. What makes a marriage valid? Is it simply procreation to ensure the future of our planet? The idea is absurd. As someone who really doesn’t care to have kids, I simply cannot stand behind the mentality that a ideal marriage is one with children – or even that perhaps the only purpose for being around is children. If that’s the case, I guess my existence in the world is not necessary. So why did God bother?
Do you see how far this discussion into the ridiculous can go? And that’s okay with me, because as least it’s getting talked about rather than swept under the rug.
My only concern is that this may further alienate those on the fence about the issue. As unfortunate at this is, they need the support of those in hetersexual marriages in order to accomplish their goal.
Crashing Down… in a puddle, of all things.
For the better part of the evening, I felt free.
I knew I would see someone tonight that hurt me. I would once again come face to face with a person who promised many things to me and didn’t follow through. I knew this friend would be at a get together tonight.
So I mentally and emotionally prepared myself – something I’d been unable to do previously because the encounters were chance. The preparation helped – I told myself I would not let it affect me like the previous times. I would not allow my night to be ruined this time.
And things were fine. We were having a great time; rhere was laughter, joy, ease, love, fun. My heart was light. It was good, it was all good… until about 11:45pm, when the person who hurt me more than any other person has said to a very close friend of mine, “You should come over sometime.”
Is this stupid? The person who disappeared from my life when I needed my best friend the most is inviting my close friend over to place I haven’t been invited over to see. And this was done right in front of me. Tonight, in the darkness that is 12:45pm, it feels wrong to me. Not because I’m jealous of their friendship. Why should I be? But because I feel as though I should be invited. To me it felt thoughtless and rude. My heart sank because I was not included in the invitation.
Whoa. That word “included” just hit me like I Mack truck.
I need to think about this for a while. Is it really just about not being included? That sounds so small. So petty. So sad and pathetic.
For me it all goes back to the why question. I don’t have the answer as to why things turned out the way they did. In the past, it’s always been my fault. Always. So it’s pretty safe for me to assume it is this time. But I don’t know why.
Was the disappearance intentional?
Was it something I said or did?
Did they mean more to me than I meant to them?
The questions came in torrent and my anger nearly welled-up. The chains were back. My night ruined. All the positive I built up in my heart came crashing down in a landslide of hurt. The hope that I had the ability to let go of this and move on was suddenly lying in a puddle all around me.
So after the invitation, I felt it hang in the air over my head. I continued dealing the cards (not metaphorically… we were playing Pitch.) and I remembered my cell phone screen saver, which is one simple word.
Forgive
But I want my friend to know how much I hurt. I want to be ackowledged for being the better person. I don’t want to let someone get off scott-free (where did that expression come from?) while I sit quietly in the corner. I feel as though I deserve justice. And I just can’t get over that.
I took my love, I took it down
Climbed a mountain and I turned around
I saw my reflection in the snow covered hills
’till the landslide brought me down
Oh, mirror in the sky
What is love
Can the child within my heart rise above?
Can I sail thru the changing ocean tides?
Can I handle the seasons of my life?
Well, I’ve been afraid of changing
’cause I’ve built my life around you
But time makes you bolder
Children get older
I’m getting older too
Oh, take my love, take it down
Climb a mountain and turn around
If you see my reflection in the snow covered hills
Well, the landslide will bring it down
If you see my reflection in the snow covered hills
Well, maybe the landslide will bring it down
I just want the freedom back. Please, God, no more landslides.
Stephanie Nelson 