One of the things I have been thinking about lately is “falling in love”. I even used the phrase in my last post, “I fell in love.” But what does that really mean? Sometimes when I think about it, “falling in love” makes it sound like my feelings for her are some sort of cosmic accident that I am beset with. And falling never sounds good; “falling down”, “falling off of that building”… I am not sure why we say that we have fallen in love, but we do. However, for me, love is entirely different.
You see, for me, love is a choice. God created us to be creatures with the capability to love; but he also created us as creatures with the freedom of choice, the ability to choose who we love and who we do not. This is a key distinction. While love should be an eternal thing, our choices are often only as strong as our resolve. So we must choose a commitment to love. This choice is not to be taken lightly; it has ramifications in the future and involves another person’s future as well. This is the kind of commitment that you can’t just break and be done with it. When you make a commitment to love someone, then you are binding your hear to that person; if you are earnest about this commitment, it is going to become part of your every day life. Therin lies the risk. The way it is anchored in your heart, if things don’t work out you are going to be devastated. It’s only going to get worse as time goes by. However, the returns on your “investment” so to speak here is a life of happiness, a world of joy with someone that you love, and hopefully loves you too. Even the journey there can be worth the price you pay for failure.
To love another is the great calling of humanity. As Christians, we believe that we are called to spread the word of God. What better way to do this then to love? Love is a gift of God that we should not take lightly. He has given this to us that we may glorify him with it; not cheapen it in one-off relationships and divorce.
