Proper 17 (B)

September 3, 2000

Celebrate Life

Song of Solomon 2:8-13

Can you remember the first time you fell in love? Maybe you were in high school, spending hours on the phone talking to the guy or girl of your dreams. Perhaps you were in college or at work, and you were captivated in the presence of that special someone. There is nothing like it, is there? Being in love is a time when we step outside of ourselves and our routine, and we enjoy the companionship of another person. It is a lot like Spring. Everything is new -- the flowers are in bloom; rich green grass covers the ground; trees art budding. It is a time of newness, life and celebration.

We find the same parallel in our passage today. As Spring is blossoming all around, so too is this special relationship. The lover longs to be in the presence of his beloved (possibly his spouse, see 5:1). Theologically, we discover God's affirmation of passionate love. In addition, the passage serves as a model for marriage, encouraging us to spend time with our spouse, cultivating our relationship. You may have heard the story of a distraught and hurting woman who asked her husband, "Why don't you tell me that you love me anymore?" To this, he replied, "I told you that I loved you when I married you 20 years ago. If anything changes, I'll let you know." While this may sound ridiculous, it is all too easy to neglect our spouse and forget to say "I love you."

What about those of you who are not married? These truths can be applied to all relationships, challenging us to cultivate our friendships and celebrate the gift of companionship that God has given us. Too often, we get so busy that we don't take time to smell the roses. We need to slow down, hit the pause button on our lives and enjoy our friends just as we enjoy the newness of Spring.

I am reminded of a poem called The Sation. It describes our lives as a long scenic train ride with passengers intently focused on the final destination. We say such things as, "When we reach the station, that will be it!" "When I am 18!" "When I put that last kid through college!" "When I have paid off that mortgage!" "When I get a promotion!" "When I reach the age of retirement, I shall live happily ever after!"

Sooner or later we must realize there is no station, no place to arrive at once and for all. The true joy of life is the trip. The station is only a dream. It constantly outdistances us. Remember Psalm 118:24, "This is the day which the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." It isn't the burdens of today that steal our joy. It is the regrets over yesterday and the fear of tomorrow, twin thieves which rob us of today. So stop pacing the aisles and counting the miles.

Instead, climb more mountains, eat more ice cream, go barefoot more often, swim more rivers, watch more sunsets, laugh more, cry less. Life must be lived as we go along. The station will come soon enough.

To this I would add, celebrate your relationships, and enjoy the companionship that God has given you.