[August 2006: Philadelphia, PA. Shortly after my arrival back from Egypt, and one month before we would be officially engaged!]
June 9th, 2006
Exactly one year before John and I were to be married.
But believe it not, though we felt the closest we'd ever felt to one another emotionally, geographically- we were thousands of miles away.
Instead of spending my summer with my boyfriend...I was on a mission trip in Egypt that summer; following through with a commitment I had made to Jesus long before we had ever met. A commitment to love God more, to serve the poor and needy, and to do my earthly best to be the hands and feet of Jesus. John was taking a course, studying 18 hours a day intensively for what he thought may be his only chance at entering med school and fulfilling God's calling on his life to become a doctor. His one chance at literally being able to make "the blind see".
There is no doubt about it, June 9th, 2006 found us both in a really good place. A place of obedience. A place of focus. A place of faith.
A place where more than ever before our hearts were hidden in the heart of Jesus. Reading through my journals today was such an incredible reminder to me of the reason why John and I are so in love:
Our love has always been founded in Something Greater than ourselves.
That day I wrote:
"God is stretching is both...reminding us that we are working primarily for our union with Adonai...all else will follow, and must only follow...
Lord, Thy will be done."
It's easy to forget the glue that binds us together. In fact, looking back at the times we have struggled most in our marriage the root of the problem always leads to our forgetfulness.
Forgetfulness- forgetting that God is the Source. That from Him, by Him, and to Him come all things. Forgetfulness that in Him do all things hold together.
When we forget...when we wander...we become self-absorbed...we become self-focused...we stray from the source of True Love, and our marriage is so subtly pulled apart.
I'm reminded of this truth today, because with the hustle and bustle of life I feel that I am personally starting to go down the path of forgetfulness. These days, I have not acknowledged the Love of my Life and given Him his rightful place in my heart. I have failed to run to Him to fill me up with more love, more grace, and more forgiveness. I've been distracted by the things He has "called me to" and failed to remember that more than all of these things:
I am called to Him.
This is where it all began. This is where it all must remain.
My life has never been more satisfying, through singleness, through dating, or through marriage- as when I find that I am most satisfied in Him, most intimate with the Lord of my life. To be in God's presence is to be forced into the overflow of all that is good...and in turn, be able to emit those very good things to the world around us.
Maybe I have been trying to do too much by myself. Maybe I have been trying to love on my own...
It's time to remember what holds all things together. It's time to recall what binds my heart, mind, and heart in steadfastness. It's time to remember my FIRST love...because therein lies the only answer to be able love at all.
This is such a great reminder. Thank you. I just came across your blog recently and have really appreciated your insight.
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure, thank you so much for reading and I appreciate your encouragement. It's a good reminder for me as well!
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