This Wild Valentine

Why is it when we fall in love we are happy, thrilled and walking on air? When I fall in love, I can do anything, I know it, I feel it and there is nothing that stands in my way. As a friend said, it puts a spring in my step and a smile on my face.

Cleopatra risked her crown for love in spite of how politically calculated her escapades began. The kings of this world are known by their love affairs; we call them all by their first names.

Yes, love makes the world go round. Wars are waged, won and lost on romance. The greater the love affair, the greater the sacrifice. She gave up everything to join him overseas. He left his kingdom to live in exile with her. And the stories go on and on.

Why isn’t it money or fame? Anyone with either or both would trade it all for love, wouldn’t they.

Romance carries the soul into the realm of the supernatural. A place where one is treasured not for the things they bring to the table, whether beauty or dowry, but the heart. We are searching constantly to know and be known but for what? I know lots of people and I am known by many yet still my heart yearns for romance. Those who know me do not quench my thirst. This is why we have endless seminars on marriage, because the romance disappears and we want it back, don’t we? A small taste was not nearly enough and we will do anything to get it.

After many years of seeking this hidden grail, I have discovered the elixir is right before my eyes, a bit of the Divine. It’s the Divine that takes our breath away, that is too good to be true and that we are so unworthy of so that when it romances us we are at once taken, intoxicated and fearful that it will leave when it finds us to be less than who we wish ourselves to be. The most romantic words in the universe are spoken by the Divine all the time. I will never leave you nor forsake you. That is the basis of this Divine valentine, the promise of being together no matter what. It’s the echo of Jesus’ heart in the voice of my beloved that keeps me coming back again and again. I’m the one he dares enough to reveal it to, the passion that God reflects in him, untamable beneath the glossy coating of please and thank you’s.

In all of our romantic quests, we are searching for that hint of the Divine shining through another. When two become one, it is us and Him that makes us more than conquerors; that gives us that edge on life. Religion tames the Divine and dictates we must find him and conform to his ways and strive to be good enough. Romance speaks to our hearts, calling us gently to his side saying his ways are past finding out and we don’t have to be good to receive; this is the one who is ever pursuing us, not just our hearts but everything about us saying we are worth his life to him. His passion is furious.

We hide because we fear we may be consumed yet in the fire of his heart we find the truth about ourselves. He has loved us with an everlasting love. He has made us and he is providing for us. He is romancing our souls for this short time on earth and he yearns for his wedding day when water will be turned into wine at his reception. That is when our hearts will become fountains of wine, made richer, stronger, thicker as we change to eternity in the wake of our vows. He’s waiting, tapping his foot, checking his watch and smoothing his tux. Are you ready?

There's No Place Like Dad

By Wednesday I am known to my children as the Wicked Witch of the West… that’s because they tire easily of the constant drone. Get out of bed… Get your school work started… Eat breakfast… Some days it’s not pretty, folks. Ah well, it’s a mother’s job and someone’s gotta do it. Never mind they may ignore me in my golden years or need therapy before 30… and I am mild, really I am!

Tonight is History Night in our homeschool group. Each child does a presentation on their current fave historical figure in costume. Fun! But last night I was no longer Mom but WWW… What’s a mother to do but call in the Principal, right? It went something like this… “I am getting nowhere quick, AGAIN. Do you think you can help them on this assignment before I confiscate electronics and threaten them with life imprisonment, AGAIN?” through clenched teeth, of course, with current read in hand ready to retreat to my room for some R & R.

Dad to the rescue, thank God.

After ten minutes there were two teen smiling faces (my husband deals in the miraculous, obviously) and he had taken their angst fueled apathy and turned their reports into the easiest thing in the world, even I was taking notes.

They are excited, thrilled, exultant even, (well almost…) to share their cool stories with their homeschool pals. They are animated and practicing, studying rigorously on the net, smiling confidently since they no longer have to spend all day today to prepare last minute…. And I get to help with outfits and play dress up, you know, the easy stuff.

Did I say my husband deals in the miraculous?

Whew. It should be a good night. I’ll have my darling Dorothy bow and ruby slippers back on by Monday. Thanks, Paul!

A Sprint in the Proverbial Park

This week has gotten by me… There was much to do, of course, but I am better at eeking out reflection time than this. I ran and ran and ran and found myself so winded I had to sit for a long time. What am I doing? Why do I do it? What can I do instead? Is this really necessary?

We honed our schedule this week and are moving into greater productivity in our homeschool. But we'll burn out unless I schedule time to sit alone, quiet, thinking, not thinking, processing, knowing or unknowingly.

Then I saw the mirrors… It’s like the hall of mirrors at the amusement park. In front of you is a mirror and behind you is another and to your side it looks like a path and you stare at your reflection wondering if your eyes are playing tricks on you.

I am lost in my own personal hall of mirrors.

How do I get out? (The physical one is a walk in the park by comparison.)

I turn to God and bleakly ask for help.

In moments I’m transported above it looking down on the silly maze and see the path so clearly.

The answer isn’t in avoiding the maze but being able to duck in and out as necessary to accomplish whatever I need to and then jump out. The problem comes when I stay in mirror land and the only reflection is mine.

We all do it. It’s life. But there are secret doors in that maze, I tell you. Here’s to looking down from His heavenly view point.