Stephen Bleile

It’s your typical romance story. Guy likes girl. Girl shoots guy down. Guy does everything in his power to forget girl and ‘move on.’ Guy cannot seem to escape girl. Girl is oblivious (according to the girl.) Girl and guy have above average number of friendly disagreements only they didn’t seem all that friendly. Guy figures out that the only reason there are so many skirmishes is because he’s really working hard not to like girl. Guy wonders why he would work so hard when liking the girl may be easier. Guy remembers previous shoot down and decides to revamp strategy. Guy finds 101 reasons to be around girl as often as possible including fixing downspout, mowing lawn, chopping wood, hedging bushes, driving family to the airport, and however many more reasons would be needed to top the list to 101. Girl claims to be oblivious of guys advances. Guy keeps going through 101 reasons. Girl concedes having guy around isn’t so bad. Guy takes girl out for a trip on his super cool motorbike. Girl concedes that she is not freaked out at his advances (though that thought freaked girl out.) Guy leaves country for 10 days and girl is sure to talk to him every day. Guy comes back then Girl leaves the country for three weeks and they manage to communicate on a regular basis. Guy sends present in walnut. Girl doesn’t open because she doesn’t like walnuts. Guy asks her to open the walnut anyways. Girl find pearl in walnut. Guy takes girl to dinner and surprisingly all of their friends are there. Walnuts mysteriously appear on table. Girl is getting suspicious. Guy asks girl to crack the nuts. Girl finds a ring. Guy proposes. Girl says yes.

At least that’s how it seems to me in hindsight. (Me being the guy and Tash being the girl.)((If you hadn’t already figured that out.))

Oh, and “I am sorry.”  That’s the other hardest three words to say.

Why, though?

Why is it nearly impossible to tell someone that you love them?

What makes those words so awkward to utter?

Anyone who has been to a wedding conducted in the Christian tradition will recall the minister expounding on the three different words/types of love from whatever language the Bible was written in.  These three loves are Eros, Philia and Agape.

From what I can tell Eros is like, um, erotic.  Sort of sexy / animal instinct / passionate / hollywoody.

Philia seems more like brotherly / family love.

And Agape is God love.  That is to say how God loves.

I suppose the minister would usually conclude that for a healthy marriage the couple should learn to walk in all three types of love.

Maybe it’s this diversity of meaning that are all boiled down to the word “love” that make it so awkward.  I mean if you came up to me and suggested you erotically loved me and that I made you feel like an animal in heat I suppose I would feel uncomfortable. (Correction: I know FOR SURE I would.)

The other problem is that we love everything.  I love ice cream.  I love Dr. House.  I love the way they used lego to re-enact a particular system of a down song.   I love baby Jesus, etc. Maybe subconsciously we figure we can’t tell other people that we love them because we know we’ve already used up that word on stupid stuff.

I don’t know the answer exactly but I wish it wasn’t so.  I mean after all… I think The Beatles were right:  all we need is love. It’s ironic as the British are about the last people group in the world that you would associate with any sort of emotional expression. (It wouldn’t be proper, don’t you know.)

Fine.  I’ll say it.

I LOVE YOU.

v. 3 “He sends from heaven and saves me, rebuking those who hotly pursue me.”

This was Tash’s prayer for ages when I was trying to win her heart, but it was all in vain for as the holy scripture continues :”God sends his love and faithfulness.”

he he…

The Bible is a great practical guide, hey? Why not join us in our Psalm countdown? Read the Psalm of the day with us as we prepare for the wedding and our marriage. (It will serve as a useful guide so you don’t forget the wedding, too.)