::@:: Reality of Dreams ::@::

“Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires” - Song of songs 2v7

Just finished Rob Bells second book Sex God… again another great series of challenges, and open I recommend to anyone wither they are in a relationship with someone or not, because even if its not sexual we are always in relationships with someone.

All through the book there were sections which caused me to pause and reflect, much like in Velvet Elvis. Take the verse at the top, considering what my mind has been like the past few months this verse hit me. I have read Songs of Songs at least three times but now this one verse makes sense… now to apply it.

Anyway, one part of note was actually in the footnote section, footnote 156 to be exact. It speaks about the fact that sometime we make sure their is “noise” around us so we don’t have to listen to ourselves, to our own souls. It talks about how this is not healthy. Being someone who enjoys having music on for that very reason I found the next part interesting, I have typed it up the next section from the book.

Ask yourself the following questions and write down whatever comes to mind. Get rid of your edit button/ No one’s going to read this. You’ll throw it away afterward. Maybe

What frustrates me right now?
What am I angry about?

No, Don’t go on to the next one, go back. Listen. Reflect. Be honest. Give yourself time. The book will be here when you get back

What am I scared of?
What am I dreading?
What am I anxious about?
What concerns me?
What is stressing me right now, the smallest thing that I don’t want to write down because it seems so dumb but is actually stressing me?
What am I looking forward to?
Today, tomorrow, this year?

Its quite a challenge to do this and be honest with ourselves to allow our inner self to have its say, and then Rob Bell asks how we would feel about sharing these questions with our partner? As he has been saying, THAT is being naked.

So, yeah its a book about the relationships between a man and woman, it deals iwth marriage, and sex… ooooh the “s-word”… but its honest, open, and frank about how the bible views such things and to be honest I think most Christians, let alone non-Christians don’t have an accurate idea of what the bible really says about it all. No really, quite a few people no matter what their beliefs have a very poor idea (and some very twisted interpretations) of the scripture. Now, I am not saying Rob Bell is by any means perfect but he does say some things I think that need to be heard, he has a clarity in his writing (and speaking from what little I’ve heard) that, well, just makes things clearer for me.

Relationships, especially intimate ones, can be a powerful gift, and a painful hurt. We have all, at least the most of us, been hurt in the past. There are scars that run deep, and reading a book all about relationships could just open those wounds… well, for me it did. I have been carrying round hurt from, ironically, never having a relationship. Sometimes we need to face the hurts, bring them out into the open once again so we can finally deal with them. We need to be honest with ourselves, and those we are intimate with. A intimate relationship is all about becoming one, falling deeper and deeper into the infinite nature of the others soul.

Anyway, I am about to start ranting and this is not a post for that. I recommnend that you pick up both of Rob Bell’s books, read them by yourself, with friends, discuss the issues, debate the conflicts, use your brains… its a good thing to do. Just because you don’t believe what I believe doesn’t mean you can’t gain something from them as well.

Laters