Love is the silver bullet. I said it without even thinking. Or thinking out loud more like. Church staff gathered around tables, talking about outreach and the gospel, and how it’s not one-size-fits all, and yet. It is. Sort of. Isn’t it? One size, or one thing needed, and it’s Jesus who said it. Love.
Last summer Luke came home from working at camp and you could see it written all over his face. How he’d met this girl, and after all those years of him trying to explain what IT was, we could tell this time it might be different. He was different, no question there. Lost in his thoughts one minute and giddy the next. Even the dog could tell something was up. This kid who’d been saying, “I don’t love you Maple,” somewhat joking, somewhat not, now turning soft. And of course, we find out later she’s sending him pictures of puppies in texts – and this is the way it is with love.
Her name is Ali, and she’s got my boy’s heart. Got it last summer before it was official. Before they could exchange anything more than polite conversation without breaking the rules about dating at camp. And I just found out a couple of weeks back, chatting over dinner at another camp wedding, how it was at the last possible minute she took that position at Eagle Lake. How on a whim she’d picked Excursions. Not at all what she’d planned for her summer, and hearing it now you can’t help but feeling quite certain about divine appointment and a Master plan.
So for an entire summer my boy watches this gal out of the corner of his eye and he bides his time and he holds out hope. And it’s just a week or two before he moves back home and she heads back to school, we get this phone call. There’s a girl.
Of course, it’s not too many months later and we’re all thinking it’s not just a girl, but there’s a pretty solid chance this is the girl, and if you’ve been paying attention you know it’s true. Kyle and I remembering our days of countless road trips back and forth between Minnesota and Illinois, and these two could have financed a private jet for all the airfare spent on long distance dating. A school year of FaceTime and online movie nights and rerouting itineraries to include Colorado layovers, and finally it’s here. Another summer.
Another summer at Eagle Lake Camp, only this time they won’t be breaking rules about secret love because it’s no longer a secret and it’s no longer forbidden. Not with that diamond there on her finger, catching the mountain sun. Shimmering its message – this girl is taken. Luke and Ali. Engaged. Promised. Luke and Ali in love.
So yesterday I say it out loud, and I’m not even thinking about Luke and Ali, but sitting here now I know it’s true. It’s LOVE. The silver bullet. Love that’s got a boy nearly willing to forsake eating steak because of the convictions of a certain young lady, and that’s just one of many examples. It’s easy to see what love can accomplish. Moving mountains and such.
Which is right where it happened. On a mountain. It’s where he first saw her face and it’s where he fell on a knee and he asked her the question. Will you marry me, Ali?
And it’s where she said yes to a boy and his love.
By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:35
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