Random thoughts that occurred to me this afternoon while hanging up my laundry.
I used to think that people who believed that there was “The One” for them or their “Soulmate” were silly, overly romantic, and chasing a pipe dream. I didn’t believe that there was just the one perfect person that God chose for you. I mean, God wouldn’t choose someone for you that you might never find. Right? I felt that any two people who had compatible values, beliefs and personalities could, if they were willing to do the work necessary, have a wonderful, fulfilling relationship. That is, until I found my “One,” my “Soulmate.” When I did, suddenly all of that rationalization just melted away and although, even with your soulmate, you still have to do the work necessary, I now have a completely different view than I had before.
Now, I’m going to be a little bit vulnerable, so please, pet lovers, don’t hate me (because I got better). But, another attitude I had was that I used to think that people who were super-attached to their pet(s) were kind of pathetic. I concluded that they were too hurt and broken to have really intimate relationships with humans so they were trying to fill the relational void in their lives by anthropomorphizing their pet…calling their puppy or kitty a “fur baby.” And letting a dog lick your face? Disgusting! That was, until we got Colby, our Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy and he utterly stole my heart to the extent that I, now, can’t imagine my life without him. My whole attitude towards animals has changed. In fact, the other night we watched "I Am Legend," and when Will Smith's dog, Sam, got infected and he had to put him down, my heart ached for him.
So let me ask you a question. Do you think my life is richer and more satisfying since my attitude and experience changed or less so? I think you know the answer. The fact of the matter is that my life is more wonderful now than I ever imaged was even possible. Do you see that my self-proclaimed sophistication, which is really just a prideful sense of superiority, ended up not bringing me more abundant life, but actually limited me and kept me from living life to the fullest. I urge you to see that anytime you say or even think the phrase, ”I would never…,” you have just created a limit—a barrier in your life that makes your world smaller or, at least, limits its ability to grow larger and more meaningful.
Now, to be sure, there are appropriate limits or boundaries like, “I would never intentionally hurt or take advantage of anyone.” Those kind of limits prevent behavior that would be damaging or life robbing. But "I-would-never’s" based in bias or pride keep us from the abundant life that Jesus died to give us. And frankly, when I look at my beloved wife and just seeing her thrills my heart beyond measure, or I am sitting with my precious Colby on the couch and he puts his paw or chin on my hand, or starts licking my face and I am overwhelmed with affection and joy that is indescribable, I can assure you that, in those moments, I couldn’t care less what you call me…pathetic, silly, totally uncool. I’ll take it. I’d rather be uncool and pathetic and living a life that is so full I can barely contain it, than be the most sophisticated, woke hipster around and be living a life that is small and wizened and contemptuous of everything that is not consistent with my ideas and ideals
Comments