a few words
Since we just celebrated our annual "day of love," I thought it an appropriate time to just share a few of my thoughts on guys, girls, and the two of them together. But... guys, I'm not trying to shape you or set up standards for you, I just wanted to let you know what I will always value in the men I know as acquaintances and friends.
I am not a fan girl. At all. But I will tell you that there is something really appealing to me about Marius Pontmercy from Les Miserables. No, not the Eddie Redmayne part, but the actual character of Marius. Marius is a young man who is passionately fanning into flame a revolution that he hopes will bring true freedom to France, when for the first time, he falls very in love with Cosette (it's a much longer process in the book than the movie, FYI). There is one line of a song that sticks out to me as the encapsulation of what I admire about Marius. From the Song Red & Black, Marius' friend Grantaire says, "I am agog! I am aghast! Is Marius in love at last? I have never heard him 'ooh' and 'aah.'"
It doesn't look like much, but every time I hear that line I think, that's what I want. Essentially, I truly value someone who is so confident in what they stand for, so passionate for their calling, and so focused on their life's purpose that they refuse to waste time with lesser things until that right one comes. For Marius, it was the revolution. And of course for us, it's Jesus.
Really, I hope this can be an encouragement to all of you men. I want you to know that there are many of us who are waiting for someone who is enraptured with Jesus, whose gaze is fully cast upon the savior.
And while I ask you men to be this kind of person, I realize that I too must be that kind of person. Girls, I honestly think we have a harder time at this. Just scroll through a few blogs and listen to a few iTunes libraries and we'll quickly see how much time and focus is often put on that "perfect guy," known or unknown. Is that how we hope to attract a man whose focus lies on Jesus?
I saw a phrase recently that talked about not trying to find the right person, but instead becoming the right person. God has an adventure, a purpose, a path set out for us. Let us simply walk forward wholeheartedly, and someday realize there is another walking beside us.
Happy St. Valentine's Day.
I am not a fan girl. At all. But I will tell you that there is something really appealing to me about Marius Pontmercy from Les Miserables. No, not the Eddie Redmayne part, but the actual character of Marius. Marius is a young man who is passionately fanning into flame a revolution that he hopes will bring true freedom to France, when for the first time, he falls very in love with Cosette (it's a much longer process in the book than the movie, FYI). There is one line of a song that sticks out to me as the encapsulation of what I admire about Marius. From the Song Red & Black, Marius' friend Grantaire says, "I am agog! I am aghast! Is Marius in love at last? I have never heard him 'ooh' and 'aah.'"It doesn't look like much, but every time I hear that line I think, that's what I want. Essentially, I truly value someone who is so confident in what they stand for, so passionate for their calling, and so focused on their life's purpose that they refuse to waste time with lesser things until that right one comes. For Marius, it was the revolution. And of course for us, it's Jesus.
Really, I hope this can be an encouragement to all of you men. I want you to know that there are many of us who are waiting for someone who is enraptured with Jesus, whose gaze is fully cast upon the savior.
And while I ask you men to be this kind of person, I realize that I too must be that kind of person. Girls, I honestly think we have a harder time at this. Just scroll through a few blogs and listen to a few iTunes libraries and we'll quickly see how much time and focus is often put on that "perfect guy," known or unknown. Is that how we hope to attract a man whose focus lies on Jesus?
I saw a phrase recently that talked about not trying to find the right person, but instead becoming the right person. God has an adventure, a purpose, a path set out for us. Let us simply walk forward wholeheartedly, and someday realize there is another walking beside us.
Happy St. Valentine's Day.
Thanks so much for sharing this Shelby! What a beautiful encouragement and reminder. God loves us so completely and wants us to know Him as fully as possible. He so graciously gives us only what will draw us closer and deepen our pursuit towards Him.
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