Love me not. Love me. Pretty much every kid I knew grew up hearing that little rhyme. Over the years I’ve grown from the innocent little boy that thought the hero always got the girl and saved the day. Now I’m not sure I believe in love the same way as I once did. Everything is so perfect when it’s on a TV screen huh?
Then when the movie is over you’re left wanting the happy ending. Well, here’s the thing. God/whatever your deity or lack thereof is didn’t expect things to just magically happen there has to be effort. For me? Well…I started that experience in a way I shouldn’t have. I spent around a year and a half pursuing a gal that din’t care at all about me. Little hints here or there that she may be interested. Just enough to keep stringing me along.
Following that I went through a series of one night stands. Went through a few relationships where I was treated as a possession, or used for my wallet. In all these relationships I had to look back and be like, ok was I actually at fault for the crashing and burning of these relationships?
Great music aside I realized that I’m perhaps guilty of giving too much of myself. There is after all a reason why scripture tells us to guard our hearts for the heart is deceitful above all else. Jeremiah 17:9…Y’all I think that perhaps not for everyone but definitely for me there’s a sense that all my previous relationship history has taught me more about myself and my character as a man.
At the end of the day, a man is known by the nature of his character. I’d like to think that overall the struggles, heartbreak, heartache….All the lonely nights where I couldn’t sleep and went for long walks under city lights? I think it’s those times. When I’ve been the most broken that I’ve changed the most. I think for the better personally.
Not sure if y’all have seen avatar the last Airbender (the tv series not the movie. We don’t talk about the movie.) There was another avatar series released awhile ago. Legend of Korra, and in all the Avatar series there are these little nuggets of wisdom. Probably one of the most profound comes at the end of season 1. There’s spoilers so if you haven’t watched this series yet then go fix that. Watch Cartoon Online, I swear that site is dedicated to childhood and happiness.
So, that in mind this is y’alls official SPOILER WARNING, SPOILER WARNING. The scene y’all is just…..so good both in the context of the show and pertaining to life in general…. so here y’all go.
Throughout my life I’ve been battered by many different kinds of storms. Throughout all of it, my faith has been an anchor point for me. I don’t know what age y’all are and honestly it’s kind of irrelevant. There’s wisdom to be gained from all sources. Cartoons, comics, life experiences and so forth. Life is a Storm y’all. It’s messy, emotionally draining… Most of the time we feel somehow like we’re not doing or contributing enough.
Love like life though is one of those things that you show up. Especially when it’s hard. You never know, it could be that you’re a sort of anchor for someone you care about or love. It’s my belief that Life and love are both storms, the way we weather them though is that we show up. Especially when things are tough.
I hope y’all are doing alright out there my friends. With everything going on in the world….I guess this is my way of uplifting myself and at the same time trying to put some positive messages out there. Hopefully some of what I’m writing resonates with y’all.
Rapha Yada my friends,
Richard
Holy Water, Burning Man 