Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Dear John...

So Amy and I took a little break from watching LOST and popped in Dear John. I am kind of a fan of Channing Tatum, not because he's hot, but because he kind of reminds me of my brother Gabe and the fact he was in the GI Joe movie, which I love for pure nostalgic reasons. It is definitely a forgettable movie, not a big Sparks fan but I like war stories. If you are watching this movie to get some cuddles, you will probably be disappointed, not the most romantic movie, so you'll have to put in a little more work after the movie... never mind...
So anyway, I thought that Dear John did point out something very important and something people take for granted. The saying, "Distance makes the heart fonder," probably came from a person who never had a long distance relationship. In the movie, John and Savannah met briefly in the summer and "fell in love." When John shipped out overseas, they began to passionately write letters back and forth sharing harrowing tales and broken hearts. John eventually came back to the states but decided to re-up and went back. The letters continued to flow back and forth, but soon John got his "Dear John" letter. Basically it came down to the fact that you can't have a relationship with a letter, no matter how much perfume or cologne you spray on it. You got to be in it to win it! In any relationship to work out you have to be present, not just physically present, but emotionally, spiritually and etc.
The same goes with our relationship with God. We can practice being in the presence of God through prayer, reading, singing, etc. Things that create distance: lying, stealing, anger, hate, unforgiving, pride, adultery, self righteousness, and the list goes on. If not checked we will find our selves asking why God has left us or why God would let certain things happen to us, but it has been us who have walked away. Praise God that he will leave the 99 sheep to find the one who is lost. He opens his arms and accepts the Prodigal son or daughter! He will take you as you are in your ugliness and shame and create in you a new creation, free of guilt and shame!
To God be all the glory!