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Average Love or Epic Love

“I don’t want average love. I want the epic love story. If people waited for God, He would do more than you could believe.” – Gianna Jessen, abortion survivor

These words that Gianna spoke should be taken seriously by anyone who wants a love that is more than average.

Why do we settle?

Why do many people today settle for love in a relationship that is merely average? Some people are attracted to this kind of “love” because it is “easy: Put yourself out there. Get a guy/girl. Yay! Now you can say you are in a relationship! If I had a dime for every time I have observed this happening though my various life experiences, I would be a rich girl. I think one reason why this kind of “love” attracts so many is because we are a culture that wants things instantaneously.

Fast isn’t necessarily always best!

We have become more than just a “fast food” culture. We want “fast fulfillment,” “fast success,” and “fast love.” Nothing illustrates this better than the hook-up culture that prevails on so many college campuses across this nation and the world. Young hearts want love, a love that will fulfill and satisfy them. However, what so many fail to realize is that the “love” that they seek, and sometimes find will not fulfill them unless it is authentic and deeper than average. St. Pope John Paul II said, “Take away from love the fullness of self-surrender, the completeness of personal commitment, and what remains will be a total denial and negation of it.” This is the essence of the chronic problems that young people encounter when searching for love. The reason that the love so many people experience is average is because it is devoid of self-surrender and commitment.

Epic Exists.

“If people waited for God, He would do more than you could believe.” God is the author of life. He is the author of love. What better person could there possibly be to write your love story? Something that is often the culprit in people finding epic love is our urge to want to be in control. Just as how we want things fast, with the snap of a finger, we also want to have control of everything. If we really want epic love, we as a society need to let go. Let go of our wants, our desires, our timetables, and our stipulations. By letting go, we are acknowledging our flawed human tendencies and recognizing God’s sovereign power. We are not the creators of epic love. God is!

“Nothing is more practical than
finding God, than
falling in Love
in a quite absolute, final way.
What you are in love with,
what seizes your imagination, will affect everything.
It will decide
what will get you out of bed in the morning,
what you do with your evenings,
how you spend your weekends,
what you read, whom you know,
what breaks your heart,
and what amazes you with joy and gratitude.
Fall in Love, stay in love,
and it will decide everything.”
– Fr. Pedro Arrupe, SJ
_____________________________

headshot2Rachel del Guidice is a student at Franciscan University of Steubenville working towards a major in Mass Communications with a concentration in journalism. This year, she is working as the Public Relations director of Franciscan University’s Students for Life club and also writes for The Troubadour, FUS’s student newspaper. She loves God, family, old and new friends and ice cream (in that order!). Connect with her on Twitter at @LRacheldG.

 

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