Intimacy, in the dictionary is defined as a state of being intimate or closeness, affection, etc. You will think that intimacy is simply an affection. But if you think of it deeply, for us, intimacy is an intimate relationship not only with the person you love but also with God being the center of it. The Intimacy Weekend that was held at St. Paul Church, Mussafah, on 2nd June 2017 has five sessions that talks about (I) the quest for finding true love at the right place; (II) looking for love at the wrong place; (III) the hope and redemption; (IV) dating with a purpose and purity; and lastly (V) destined for intimacy, called to be a gift. The first three sessions explains how to seek, wait, discern and pray to find your true love, and the last two sessions explains how to know if he/she is the right person and how to keep your relationship strong and God centered. We realized that the Intimacy Weekend almost pertains to our love story.
Our relationship started with finding a real true love. Yes! Every person is looking for true love. And most of the time, we get lost searching for someone that is not worthy enough. A love that we thought we already had at the right time, but suddenly, it is not all that we expected from the start. This is the story of our relationship that started when each of us solely searched for our true love and ended up finding it at the right place and at the right time. As the bible says, “Put your trust in Yahweh and do right, make your home in the land and live secure. Make Yahweh your joy and he will give you your heart's desires.” (Psalm 37:3-4).
James and I first met during the SFC Christian Life Program (CLP) last mid-2016 that was held here in Abu Dhabi. Our CLP ran for almost 3 months commencing from end of March until second week of June, but I only met him by the end of May 2016. I came to know him during Talk 9 of the CLP when our Discussion Group Leader's introduced each of their members as we will be in the same group for the upcoming dedication day. After the succeeding talks, our DGLs’ decided to have a short meeting in preparation for the dedication day. After the discussion, James' group decided to have dinner, and since my group were still waiting for our one sister, they decided to invite us. During dinner, James' brother teased us saying, “Jane single ka? Single din kasi si James. Sakto bagay kayo, parehas J ang start ng pangalan, Jane and James”. I just laughed and responded, “Di siguro. ASA!”. Then our preparation for the dedication day started. During our practice, we became close friends and chat mates, as he offered his black shirt for me to use it in our performance. After the dedication day, we continued talking with each other, often asking how each other’s day ended and if I was going to church. Then he asked for a friendly meet up, as he wants to refresh his day and together, to talk about his past. I then knew that our past relationships were almost the same. The only difference is that I’ve searched it in a different way, in wrong places and explored it in many different things. I am aware that I am with the wrong person but I still continued my journey with that person, not even knowing that God has a plan for me. Until I give up all the relationships that I have, for me to find and rebuild myself with God. After a year of searching, I then joined SFC as my friend encouraged me that I will find my version of FOREVER in the community. And he’s right; I found my own version of a fairytale and love story with James. As we continue, James will tell a glimpse of his story.
I (James) have a serious relationship before and we’ve been together for almost three years, then she went to Qatar to work as an OFW. We thought than we can overcome the long distance relationship challenge, but we were wrong. After six months of being into a long distance relationship, we both decided to give-up. I thought that she is my true love, that she is the one, as we have many plans before she left. After our break-up I decided to search and seek for my true love. I’ve been into many relationships, then, in January 2016 I decided to come here in UAE to work as an OFW. I am into a relationship when I came here and even though I have a bad experience being in a long distance relationship, we still decided to take the challenge. While searching for a job here, my cousin encouraged me to join SFC and since I am still a jobseeker and my schedule fits the CLP timing I decided to join. During this CLP journey, I have had many struggles and trials, including, the often quarrel and misunderstanding in our relationship, until we broke-up. But despite the struggles and trials, I still continued the journey and completed the CLP and as Jane said, we continued talking and often went out together. Then one night, after our meet up, I felt something different, I don’t know if I’m already falling in love with her so I prayed. I prayed that if I already love her give me a sign. Until one day, she texted me asking for my advice on what she will tell to her suitors, and then suddenly, I felt this jealousy inside of me, so I decided to court her. I fell in love with her, not because she had these wrong relationships before, but because she faced her wrong relationships with God for she knows it is her redemption and hope. We may have few misunderstandings in our relationship but we’re still holding on to it as “Love is always patient and kind; love is never jealous; love is not boastful or conceited, it is never rude and never seeks its own advantage, it does not take offence or store up grievances. Love does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but finds its joy in the truth. It is always ready to make allowances, to trust, to hope and to endure whatever comes” (1 Corinth. 13:4-7).
To cut the story short, we’ve been together until now, happy and actively serving SFC and our Lord. And it’s true, if GOD is really the center of your relationship, you will be happy, contented and complete. And I must say that we’re celebrating our first anniversary happy and deeply in love with each other having God as a center of our relationship.
And for that, we are all out for Christ!
Comments
Post a Comment