31 / 36
GoodNewsFL.org
August 2017 31
ENCOURAGEMENT
Pu Pu Platters continued ....
what I am trying to convey. Be-
cause I am a traveler, this scenario
came to mind when listening to
a divorced friend of mine who
seemed to want “opportunities”
but without the hassle of pro-
gressing in commitment with any
of them.
Dating is like going on a
cruise ship. You visit wonderful
ports of call in a variety of coun-
tries. It’s exciting and fresh…at
first. Because your time is short
at each of these ports of call, you
experience only what all the oth-
er tourists experience. And even-
tually, all the souvenir shops look
the same save for their country’s
namesake plastered everywhere.
What happens then is you feel a
bit jipped. You feel no real affinity
to any of the ports of call because
you only saw them on a superfi-
cial level. (Hoping you’re making
the connection to dating.)
Choosing a country
Now let’s say you decide
you want to really take the time
and experience a country fur-
ther. Italy intrigued you so you
decide to rent a villa in the Italian
countryside. You find yourself
discovering a whole other side
to this beautiful country. The
scenery, the people, the culture…
life beyond the tourists’ traps…
has now gotten into your veins.
You decide to move there. Now
you really see the people and
the culture for what they truly
are: the enchanting and the not
so enchanting. The picturesque
villa you bought has plumbing
problems. Workers only come
out when it’s convenient to them
it seems. Every morning you are
awakened to the inconsiderate
rooster crowing. Yes, when you
get deeper into a country (or
personal relationship) there will
always be things you don’t like,
but there is something very beau-
tiful about this as well. In looking
deeper you realize these “hang
ups” are the result of something
more beautiful: a house that,
though not modern, is rich in his-
tory; a culture that values living
life more than time schedules;
and farm fresh eggs!
In relationships too, we get to
see the inner beauty and strength
along with the frailties. All these
draw us closer for a deeper con-
nection. It’s only when we truly
embrace another person and see
the real beauty that lies beneath
– to be the only one privileged
to this experience – is when our
appetites our satisfied and true
intimacy abounds.
Chris Alexander is a freelance
writer and an aspiring humble servant
of our Lord Jesus Christ. She can be
reached at Christine@MusicArtLove.
com
continued
FROM PAGE 30