Made to Love

Everywhere you look, everyone is looking for someone. This time of year it seems it is exaggerated. Some try the various hook-up websites. Others hit up the clubs or bars. Loser guys, who have already messed up and lost the girls of their dreams pathetically call, text, and message their exes, hoping against hope they can reconnect (all in vain, of course). Why do we do this? I think we all know deep down that more than anything we just want to love and be loved.

This year I have a slightly different perspective on love and relationships. For the first time ever I am starting off the year happily in love. I have dated guys who made me miserable and renewed my hatred for their entire half of the human race, but this time I will be ringing in the new year with the man I adore and who adores me back. I've known the pain of loneliness and have spent more than enough time trying to fill the silence of an empty house. It can be hard to attend the umpteenth wedding without a "plus one" - to answer all the questions about your relationship status (or lack thereof), or even worse - deal with all the cliche "the right one will come along..." Now I am not complaining. I truly wanted to be single and enjoy all the perks of the single life. It is just that as that chapter is quickly coming to a close, I am rejoicing in the romance, companionship, and camaraderie that can be found in this kind of relationship, and comparing it to what I have had thus far.

It is not shocking that people need relationships. We were made in the image of God, and as such, we are relational creatures. Think about it - we are the only creatures on God's green earth with an actual language (I do not want to hear about how monkeys can sign or how dolphins speak - it is NOT the same). We were made to commune with the God who made us, as well as to enjoy the rest of His creation. Relationships, both friendships and romantic relationships are a gift from Him. But all of that is supposed to point us back to Him.

If you feeling a little alone this year, renew your relationship with the God who made you to love. His love has the power to heal, to comfort, and to fill the void people may have left in your heart.

"Why believe in a god?"

No. the lower-case "g" is not a mistake. This is the newest ad staring back at commuters as they ride the metro in the DC area. Below the question the ad goes on "Just be good for goodness' sake" as if that solves all the problems. However, the American Humanist Association (the group behind these ads) needs to go back to remedial logic classes. Without God, there is no standard of right and wrong. There is no good and evil. Our entire system of justice has been historically based on a Judeo-Christian foundation (i.e. the laws of God as they are found in the Bible). Without that foundation, the entire superstructure of our society crumbles. We now need to go back and define what "good" is. I once heard a philosopher say "in one civilization, the people love their enemies, in another, they eat their enemies." Which is right? Who are we to say which way is good? Can we really judge the cannibals - I mean, that is what they were taught from childhood. They obviously think it is right. Ok, enough with that... I think you get my point.

Now here is the kicker! The author of this article describes the ad, saying it has "a picture of a fake Santa Claus" as though there is such thing as a real Santa Claus! (granted, there was a real St. Nicolas back in the day, but I do not think that is who is being implied in that statement). So, let me get this straight, we should not have to "give credit to something that doesn't exist" (i.e. God), but we should believe in Santa Claus?! I am just glad we have our priorities in order! One thing is sure, my faith in the American people is definitely waning.