The Pursuit

"O my darling, lingering in the gardens,

    your companions are fortunate to hear your voice.

    Let me hear it, too!" -Song Of Solomon 18:13

The Song of Solomon the one book in the Bible that so often gets overlooked. Is it a poem written between two lovers? Is it a poem representing God's love for us, his bride? Can it be both? Even more though, when I read this book I think of an ideal marriage.

How does one get to an ideal marriage? This is an interesting question that a single person is asking. I do not know the answer nor will I pretend to. But I know that I can strive for an answer...and strive to find someone to pursue and devote my love to. I know that there are several women out there that God wants me to find and choose one to pursue.  

I have dated a lot in high school and even talked with a lot of girls in college. I have noticed that most of the girls I have dated, have fallen under one pattern; and I am striving to get out of that pattern. I often feel like Ted Mosby from How I Met Your Mother. Constantly searching for who I am going to end up with one day; I am one who believes you need to date to figure out what you look for in a spouse. I think of the HIMYM Season 8 premiere when sub-character Klaus says you have to find the one whose meant for you, if you have to think about it you haven't found her yet. That relates to me because I have been trying to find someone who doesn't fall in the same pattern. 

I have met many girls this semester who have not fallen under that pattern and there is one particular one that I would like to pursue. She knows that I like her,  but that is about as far as we've talked about it. There is something different about her than the other girls. She is incredibly like me and is even a grade above me. There is something in me that feels things could last with her because I have never had to really pursue a woman. This is why I quoted Song of Solomon to begin with. 

The author knows that the woman's friends get to know her well, and that he wanted to know her as well. To me it is an act of pursuing the woman he loves; he wants her to share in his love. I know in relationships you have to lead up to love someone, and I want to start pursuing this woman to see if we will develop this love. 

Lord guide me. Use me. Give me strength and direction. I am yours.

I love you Lord, You have my heart.

A Cry for Unity

"I understand that politics is important in our society and that we as citizens have the responsibility of who we elect as our president. However it kills me to see how politics is creating so much tension among believers within the Church. We need to hold to our number one priority of being a united body through love under the reign of Christ!" -Small Group Member

This quote which was stated by a member in the small group I lead has surprisingly ticked a few people off. The very idea of us being a united body of love pissing someone off makes me want to lose hope.  I do not understand why someone would get all uptight over this statement.

So naturally I asked them to elaborate...bad idea.

I do not share my political opinions because I want to go into ministry and I believe that Church and state are meant to be separated; but I never thought that I would be criticized for that. I never thought I would be told to "find another religion" if I didn't stand firm on my political opinions. How messed up is that?

Christianity is about a relationship with Christ, our Savior, striving to live more and more like Him. My political views should not in anyway effect my relationship with Christ.

When Christians react the way one did tonight, it makes me want to lose hope in the church.

I know that would be a stupid over generalization, but it's so frustrating; especially when they use words like "retarded" to replace the word "stupid." That has to be one of my biggest pet peeves and I cannot see how using that word is loving in anyway. 

Lord I am crying to you for peace, for unity, for reconciliation. Lord, hear my cry. I'm yours.

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury,pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen