The Perfect Love Story

From that we will find the love we can offer to people on earth. And in return, the expression of love God offers to *us* through other people on earth. If you are meant to be married, God has a person out there for you. It's not about soulmates or being star-crossed lovers or being "written in the stars", but it *is* fantastic. And it is hard work most of the time. And it takes two *whole* people, working from both sides and in between, to make it. It takes a commitment to perpetual change. Because day-to-day living is the hard part.

I am horrified that, culturally, people start "looking for love" so young now. The very idea that children, instead of growing into themselves, building a firm foundation and learning who they are meant to be, are playing at being "in love"? It's revolting. This does not "teach you about yourself". It's not meant to. It's absolutely the worst, most hurtful way to figure anything out. There's a danger in trying to "find yourself" as well, of course, but that doesn't pave the way for overcompensation. Being a "whole" person doesn't necessarily mean you "know yourself" inside out, because that should not be your main preoccupation in life. Let God handle your personality as well- He gave it to you, after all.

In no remote universe could anyone ever convince me that God doesn't want us each to be individuals. He's a pretty darn creative God. He revels in uniqueness. Calls us "peculiar" several times in the Bible (just looked it up -Ex. 19:5, De. 14:2, De. 26:18, then Titus 2:14 "Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." and 1 Peter 2:9, "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light". [NKJ](Peculiar, BTW, as used in the Bible, is generally given the root-definition of "set apart". Encarta's is: 1, "unusual", and 2, "unique: belonging exclusively to or identified distinctly with somebody or something".) You see? There's no way that, in entrusting our very personalities to God, that He would want to turn us all into ChristianZombies. The idea of giving God my personality came as a revelation to me. I mean, it's not like that's the one thing that He didn't give me, but of course I never stopped to think about it that way. So when I'm trying to figure out which personality traits are really mine, or which things I picked up and imitated along the way (to fit in, likely), or which ones I might like to have, I do have somewhere to look. And that seems to make things a lot less confusing.

Companionship is a gift, not a privledge. With other people, anyway. As for me? In order for me to "fall", he'll have to fall right into my lap. Loudly. And a bright light and prophetic voice wouldn't hurt.

I'm not looking. But I am loving. And I am going to be ready for whatever God has planned for me. I don't discredit the possibility of *that kind* of love in my future, but I'm not particularly expecting it, either. Right now I am focused on being who, where, and what I am meant to be *now*. It takes context to understand that that is the antithesis to the "live in the moment" movement (which would excuse our "living for pleasure", taking advantage of sexual distraction and everything else I've spent so long talking against). The true worth of that statement actually lies in more accurate terminology - "focus on the moment": the people you're with, the project you're doing. That's different from "live in the moment", which encourages the absence of deep thinking. (As in the general spirituality behind the yoga movement: clear the head, remove the thoughts. Just *be*.)

It doesn't require experience. It must be possible to stay true to your Spirit even before you understand, because you don't have to rely on your own knowledge and understanding while in the very midst. The Holy Spirit knows what comes later. It's not meant to be a big secret. We might not have a full understanding now, and we can't see the future, but we can listen to Him.

Don't live in the moment. Live in God's moment. Every moment is important, counted, and overseen by God. Let Him be there for everything.