Monday, May 7, 2012

The Face of God


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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