What’s your experience with dating? I briefly share my experience in this video:
In one of my favorite songs, Common raps, “It doesn’t take a whole day to recognize sunshine.” Every time I hear it, it sounds like the first-time I heard him say those words. Those lyrics invite me to think about the sun’s impact and the importance of light in our relationships.
Physically, it’s nearly impossible to ignore the sunshine unless you’re indoors all the time or live in a region that experiences Polar Nights and extended periods of darkness.
I recognize that some people recognize sunshine, but they don’t value it, or they have too many thoughts in their minds to slow down enough to pay attention to the sunshine’s beauty, necessity, and impact on its surroundings…including themselves.
Medically speaking, the sun rays, otherwise known as Ultraviolet B rays, are absorbed into our skin by vitamin D receptor cells that produce vitamin D3, according to Yale Medicine dermatologist David J. Leffell, MD. Our health is dependent on the sun in so many ways. Don’t even get me started on talking about the environmental importance of the sun.
I’ll save that geek-out moment for another time. Similarly, people who are beacons of light in our lives are just as important as the physical sun. The relationships we are surrounded by make all the difference in our lives. Certain people carry an undeniable light, yet they are ignored or told that they shine too brightly.
Those of us who identify with the light God placed inside us can have a hard time dating when we unconsciously choose people who prefer that we dim our light.
I’ll be damned if I dim my light to help a man feel comfortable about himself again.
If I live by the Parable of the Lamp, why would I allow myself to remain in relationships/situations where I am being subtly coerced into a dimmed experience:
Mark 4:21-25
21 Then Jesus asked them, “Would anyone light a lamp and then put it under a basket or under a bed? Of course not! A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light will shine. 22 For everything that is hidden will eventually be brought into the open, and every secret will be brought to light. 23 Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”
24 Then he added, “Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given[a]—and you will receive even more. 25 To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.”
I really try my best to stay positive about the dating experience, but there are some honest moments that have to be shared. Those honest moments aren’t always positive – sometimes, they are downright exhausting!
My camera cut off before I could finish my thoughts. I’ll speak about this topic more at a different time.
