![]() Do you remember what it was like to have a crush in high school (or sooner)? I can still remember how embarrassed I would be when classmates would be like “OOOOOOh, Luke has a crush on _____ (fill in the blank).” I could never understand how they figured these things out. I was sure that I concealed my desires well, but yet classmates figured it out. I guess I could never be a spy or a good poker player. Not to mention, every time my crush was exposed I felt my life was going to end. If I ever was brave enough to confess my feelings to my crush then I knew I was risking it all. But what was I risking? Fast forward many years and here I am sitting in church. Everyone knows me and I pretty much know everyone else. We are family. I would like to think that we all loved and cared for each other to a very certain extent. We were not exactly living out Acts 2 to its fullest extent but we tried. As young adults in the church, there is a constant reminder that marriage should be on the radar. Pastors would take every pulpit opportunity they could to sneak in a wink wink reminder to us. We were reminded that “man was not meant to be alone.” And of course we were asked to notice all the available single ladies who were ready to fulfill God’s great gift of making babies and starting families. I mean, think about it... have you ever been on a Church Retreat? It is like Eharmony sponsored it. If a crush on a girl was discovered in the church family then everyone and their mother would know about it and try to build up that individual’s confidence to take the next step (assuming the approved of the crush). If that person gained enough courage to ask the girl out then her response can make or break the man. If she says “yes,” then the gossip rings will expand and wedding plans will probably be underway by those watchful eyes of the church faithful. The couple will figure out right away that their relationship has now entered the church fishbowl. Everyone will be watching and waiting to see what will happen. Every friendly gesture between the two will be analyzed. Every public display of affection or mild physical contact will scrutinized. No simple interaction between the two will ever go unnoticed in the church ever again. Women’s bible studies will be “praying” for the couple and men’s groups will have secret bets going on trying to guess when the couple will break up. But what if the girl says “no?” In this event, the man will probably be crushed. But should be able to heal from his wounds. However, he will not be able to ask another girl out in the family for quite some time unless he is willing to endure the reputation that may come with it. But let’s just say that the couple does make it through the initial awkwardness of a date. And in the church, one date is equal to pretty much changing your relationship status. But what happens when things get serious (Which in church terms, means you have dated for a few weeks) and the couple for whatever reason calls it quits? If it is a “good” break up then there is a chance the family might be able to figure things out and move on. But if it is a bad break up… hmmm… You tell me... answer the poll question.
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LUKE R ELIE Archives
February 2021
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