Here's Looking at You Kid

Next summer, Julie and I will have been married for 29 years (June 26). Although we have endured many ups and downs in our lives together, we still exchange that "look" that speaks of a unspoken love. Our love has grown through our time living life together and that "look" still says it all!

Those "looks" had their origin in January of 1981 when we both sparked a romantic interest in each other. Up until that point we had known and traveled together as singing partners on a musical group for two years. We would sing together and look at each other while singing. We were friends already, but in that January our looks were different. For the next six months our "unusual"courtship consisted of two official dates and one kiss (when I proposed to her). We lived under the strict rules of the ministry we were both part of. Most of the other group members were very young and so the rules seemed necessary for "control". Even though I was 26 at the time, I was a leader and so it was necessary to set the example.

Those rules included never touching one another and never being totally alone together. The ministry termed our structured time together as "dating parlor" in which we would sit as a couple in a room with others present and just talk. We learned alot about our relationship and grew in our communication skills, but some of our best times together were just sitting and looking into each other's eyes. Immediately when I saw her looking at me and she saw me looking at her, we knew there was total acceptance and love. No words needed to be communicated...the look said it all! And then throughout the day as we went about our ministry, all it would take would be that special look across a busy room filled with people and it was as if no one else was present. I knew all was well...we still had that look.

Many mornings when I meet with God, the temptation is for me to do all the talking and God sits there just looking at me. As I meander through my prayer list to my "Santa God", I miss out on the most important part of our relationship. He simply wants to love me and desires for me to experience that love. Words aren't always necessary for that kind of "dating parlor" with the God of the universe. His eyes of love speak volumes about his total acceptance and love for me.

Instead, he just wants me to sit looking at him, looking at me...quietly experiencing the look of supreme wordless love.

In our "dating parlor", words dissipate...calm ensues...and that look follows me all day long.

That look is simply called...

contemplation.