Ridiculous Love

Just a little get to know you lesson about myself before I start writing some random blogging stuff. Note: this is a blog post I wrote back around Easter. When I didn't have a blog.

I’m the one with the really long name, Elizabeth Hope Miracle Wheeler (it’s boring on the ends and exciting in the middle.) I’ve been described as strange and insane. Everything from “crazy” and “brilliant” to “reserved” and “proud of it.” That last could also be “opinionated” and “blunt.” I have very strong opinions and, though I enjoy debating and welcome a good argument, if you disagree with me I’ve also been known to be maybe a little unpleasant when people disagree with me. Maybe. But that's really mostly an exaggeration.

I’m also mostly a geek. If something can be geeky I will make it so (unintentional Star Trek joke.) Usually my blogs will probably be geeky or (I admit it) nerdy, focusing on characters in literature, movies and pop culture and what lessons we can learn from them.

This time, however, I wanted to focus on a topic that has been on my mind lately. It’s more than usually appropriate right now as well since I’m writing this the day before Easter. I’d like to remind you of God’s ridiculously devoted love. You’re probably familiar with the concept of ridiculously devoted love, though you may not realize it.

Have you ever made a present for someone? One of those projects where you spend weeks pouring your whole self into it. Then after all that work you dramatically present your finished project. … After the big moment you barely get a thank you and the recipient goes on with their life. You think to yourself “Wait, that was a huge part of my life, I spent hours and days on that, isn’t your life a little more touched by it?” Mentally you might scratch that person off the top of your gift list, obviously they don’t appreciate your hard work.

Or here’s an example with which pretty much any teenage girl can associate (though maybe you won’t all admit it.) Have you ever liked a guy who didn’t know you existed? Oh that’s just a wonderful feeling isn’t it? (Sarcasm intended.) Better yet when they do know you exist but obviously don’t care that you exist. I really must do a study on why we decide to like such boys.

So think about it this way: God looks at you and says “Man, I really love Elizabeth. I love her so much, with all my heart and I want to express that.” So he says to himself “I’ll give her a gift! I’ll give her a gift so precious and expensive that she can’t possibly not see how much I love her.” He put his whole self inside of a human being and sent him down to earth to live and die and rise again for you, it was the best gift he could have given.

Now what is God’s response? Does he say “Yes! She noticed me!” Or does he say “What? How could she possibly miss the purpose of my gift?” But it’s even more sad if you don’t see his gift at all and that’s not even his only gift. All of creation is his gift to us and it’s constantly declaring the glory and power and love of God! (Romans 1:20.)

If you’ve read any love stories you can see how this has the makings of the best unrequited love story ever. The unnoticed lover who does everything in his power to get the attention of his beloved princess. The question is whether it has a happy ending and the answer is entirely up to you.

But in case you’re interested, you can read the full love story in John 3:16. I can hear you all groaning “Elizabeth, we’ve known that verse since before we could read.” Well try reading it again, it’s a beautiful love story. “For God so loved the world” even though its track record for loving him wasn’t too great. “That he gave his one and only son” his perfect gift to get the world’s attention. “That whoever believes in him” that princess who decides to say yes to his proposal. “Shall not perish but have everlasting life” a very literal and beautiful Happily Ever After.

A final note: This was written for a newsletter aimed at teenage girls. I apologize to any guy readers for the girly descriptions but hey, it still applies to you.