“Oh, my poor sweetie,” my husband uses his thumb and forefinger to rub my earlobe in a teasing, somewhat patronizing fashion. “You didn’t know what you were getting into when you married me, did you?” His blue eyes twinkle as though hidden in their recesses are the extreme adventures he has lived and dreamed, like sparks, keeping his soul alive.
“No, I didn’t know. Not everything. I knew what I observed. I knew what you chose to share. I didn’t know you would spring on every word with your sharp, analytical mind, ignore the abstraction and sometimes the context in an effort to stick to the secure absolute. I didn’t know you are romantically challenged, but I think I knew enough. I mean, after all, we’ve known each other since we were children. I didn’t know all, but I knew enough. And stop rubbing my ear!” I lean my head away.
Why did I surrender to the commitment of loving this man?
Simple. I knew him. At least I knew enough. I knew his family. I knew his history of committed providing. I knew his cultural perspective was similar to mine. I knew he had a deep desire for “Diety,” as he calls God. I knew, that through his mistakes, he tries to be honest with himself. That was major. I knew the things that mattered most. I knew enough to trust him. He was no stranger.
I trust my husband because I know him. Because I trust him, I can love him. Because I love, I can surrender.
So often we, the church, get it wrong about God. So often we filter our concept of Him through our religious mores, our parents, and even isolated Bible texts out of context. So often we ignore the fact that God, the Father God, was IN Christ, who is the Light of the World. Like a stranger, we simply don’t know Him.
We won’t ever know all there is to know, but we can know enough to trust.
No one can trust without knowing. No one can love without trusting. No one can surrender their heart without knowing, trusting, and loving.
It’s true in human romance. It’s true in the Divine romance.
I encourage you to listen to “The Favor of God” in this link. (Direct link to Life Unlimited & then find The Favor of God a bit more than 1/2 way down the list)
“I have loved thee with an everlasting love, therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee.” Jeremiah 31:3
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