 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
||||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|||||||
|
|
|
August 19, 2005 - Marit and me update Time, patience, and openness… those are our the three keywords regarding our relationship. No, Marit and I have not broken up. We've also not set a chronological course in which our relationship will progress to eventual marriage. We are currently "together" and "not together" at the same time. You think it confuses you? Well it confuses me even more sometimes. But it's true. We're together in the sense that our feelings have not changed for each other and in fact are probably as strong as they've ever been. But we're not together in the sense that not only are we not physically together, now that she's back out at school in Utah, but also because we realize God is the pilot here in our relationship. And until two people say "I do" on an altar, the consummate relationship is not one yet. Do we both have aspirations related to continue the relationship deeper and closer? Sure, of course. But understanding our personal emotional desires are secondary to the plan God has for both us individually to further his kingdom is essential to living a content life. If your stock is in romantic relationships and viewing them and marriage as the "penultimate" human experience, then you'll be sadly disappointed and unfulfilled when you reach that point. -C.S. Lewis Time -Marit has about 2 years, give or take a couple months, left of school out in Utah. This fact alone obviously bares us from being physically together for extended periods of time in the near future. And being that you want to be as close as possible with someone you're thinking of spending the rest of your life with, these 2 years create a junction to what may or may not be a deeper continuation of our relationship. I myself have many things to "get together" before I can even think about a marital-type relationship. It should take me about 2 years to get those things together possibly. This time is not something to be upset or frustrated about. It is a time that is meant to rejoice, realizing God has specifically put us both in positions to love people and to evangelize to those in the spheres of influence he's put us in. I've seen too many of my peers circumvent God's work in the single portion of their lives and get serious or get married before the couple parts for an extended period of time. Why rush; isn't that for fools? Do you honestly not trust God will keep you two together if you're meant to be? No married couple wish they got married earlier and lot wish they waited. God's work is so much more important than our romantic desires and this is our way of proving that we really believe that. Besides, I'm Polish, so why would I want to be rushin'? (que drum sound) Patience -One need not look further than 1 Corithians 13:4 to see that patience is the first adjective God uses to describe the beautiful thing of love. I don't think it was a mistake or random order either. I think patience lays the foundation for not just romantic love, but love in general. It is in patience that we realize our ability to control our carnal desires and relish God's. And that self-control leads us to focus more on others and less on ourselves. That is a good thing. Openness -What is the point of being a Christian unless you give God the wheel? This two year period is a time in which we acknowledge God and his infinite wisdom in our lives. And we acknowledge that God may have plans separate then our own. We want to submit his lordship in our lives, even if that means being open to paths or relationships we do not consider viable in the future. We want to remain open to God's calling in our lives both corporately and individually. Whether this calling leads us closer in our relationship or not, we praise him who is worthy of all glory and honor. Though I don't speak word for word for Marit, I know our desires and aspirations, as mentioned in the above paragraphs, are on the same plane. And to eludicate any that may think, this "time apart" period is not because our feelings have lessened, or that because we're afraid to take the next steps, or that we're afraid of commitment, or that our parents rule every aspect of our lives, or anything balderdashical like that. It is plain and simple obedience to God, giving the relationship to him, and being patient. We figure that if we do that, allow time to answer our uncertainties, be patient in waiting, and are open to God's plans, well then we can't go wrong in this relationship. I would never want to be that couple that says, outwardly or inwardly (most don't want to admit outwardly, but know inwardly it's true), "I wish we had waited a longer to get married; we were too immature, if only we had known then…" Please pray for us… thank you. |
|
|
||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||
