The emotion we experience when we fall in love is comparably
different than the love we have for God. Falling in love eventually requires
tangible reciprocation. Hearts flutter in harmony. The light touch of nothing
more than fingertips is enough to generate wonder of what the future together
may bring. We anticipate seeing their face, looking into their eyes, touching her lips. Every song we hear reminds us of the one we are falling in love
with. Eventually “our song” ascends
above all the rest. (To this day Roberta
Flack’s “The first time ever I saw your
face” still brings up fond memories of Robin and makes my heart flutter) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Go9aks4aujM
For most the highly charged emotions of new love begins to
wane. The time that passes before the excitement diminishes varies from couple
to couple. Some have told me that the feeling has never diminished; they
somehow manage to fall in love each new day. I think they lied to me.
Now it is not the love for each other that has diminished,
it is the excitement, the glow. Our lives before falling in love begin to
resurface. Old friends demand some of our time. Earlier delicately concealed
blemishes begin to appear. Gone is the excitement of catching just a glimpse of
her face as you pass through the day. Holding hands is just holding hands. Ah, but the song, the song rekindles feelings
each time you hear the melody, each time
you lip the words. Music has a profound effect on our psyche. Music’s ability
to generate memories, to rekindle new love, to make us want to sing along or to
make us cry is matched by none.
Months, years, march along. The love grows and strengthens,
but never does it return to the excitement of those first days. And then
sometimes it falters. But I will stop there, more on that later.
Though the love we have for God is different, there are similarities
along the way. Many years ago when I first accepted Christ into my life, when I
first loved Him, I would wake each morning with His name on my lips. I read His
word at every opportunity. I spoke to Him through prayer almost without
ceasing. I listened to Christian music for the first time in my life and
enjoyed it. This new relationship brought excitement. I looked forward to see
what each new day would bring.
Somewhere along the way, I cannot remember when, the excitement
lessened. My life before God began to slowly resurface. Obligations demanded my
time. I still prayed but it was more structured than the impromptu
conversations I had previously enjoyed. I rediscovered that I appreciate all
types of music, and Christian music wasn’t really in the top three.
But my love for God did not lessen, in fact it continues to
grow. The pace probably isn’t always pleasing to God. But the newness, the frenzy of my early walk
with Christ had faded considerably.
I confessed to you earlier that the relationships I have
experienced over the decades have more than faded, they have died. I am quite
certain that my love for God will never meet that certain fate.
My questions for you tonight-are the emotions of the
beginning certain to flee? Are they necessary to sustain our relationships?
Do you remember the first time you saw His
face?
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