One little white Conversation Heart caught my
attention above all the rest. “Say Yes” it pleaded in
tiny red letters.
“Say Yes?” I thought to myself, “Say Yes to what?”
I’m sure the makers of one of Valentine’s Day’s hallmark
confections had pretty innocent ideas for the “Say Yes”
heart. But what about the rest of us?
We can guess what Britney Spears, Beyoncé, Eminem, and
MTV would tell us to Say Yes to: Free love, casual sex,
and pleasure for all – as long as it feels right to you.
The media has no problem telling our generation to Say
Yes to anything that will bring us instant pleasure and
them instant cash. After all, we’re the “Just Do It”
generation, right?
The popular view of pleasure and self-fulfillment
that our culture screams at our generation from all
directions is, of course, twisted, harmful, and dead
wrong. However, even in strong Christian circles many
young adults are adopting a misguided view of chastity,
happiness, and true love.
Oftentimes we live our lives in the area of chastity
according to the “just how far can we go?” question.
Just how much can we kiss, caress, hang out exclusively,
or sit in the back seat of a car…without crossing the
line into sin? If we’re living our lives with a “just
how far can we go?” mentality, we’re missing a huge,
crucial aspect of the call to purity.
Purity isn’t a line. It’s a direction.
If we’re on the path that is leading us up to the “just
how far can we go” line, we’re on the path of impurity,
and we need to turn around and get off that path
immediately.
We can’t just run away from sin, however, without having
something to run towards. Instead of asking “just how
far can we go without getting ourselves into sin?” you
and I need to be challenging ourselves to run – to go
all the way – in the direction of purity. St. Paul
wrote: “Do you not know that in a race all the runners
compete, but only one receives the prize? So run, that
you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control
in all things. They do it to receive a perishable
wreath, but we an imperishable.” – 1 Corinthians 9:24-25
You and I must run towards God. He is both the prize –
the reward of true life and true love – and the Prize
Giver – the One who rewards us with lifelong love when
we follow His plan for relationships.
The Bible says in Hebrews:
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud
of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and
sin which clings so closely, and let us run with
perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to
Jesus, the pioneer and perfector of our faith, who for
the joy that was set before him endured the cross,
despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of
the throne of God…Therefore lift your drooping hands and
strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for
your feet…” – Hebrews 12:1-2, 12
You and I must challenge each other to take a lesson
from the Bible and Conversation Hearts this Valentine’s
Day, and SAY YES: to purity; to lifelong love and the
sacrament of marriage; and to the fullness of life that
Christ wants us to enjoy in Him.
Let us run with our whole heart, mind, and body along
the path of purity that leads to Christ.
St. Valentine, Pray for Us. •
© Copyright 2004, Stephanie Wood and
NextWave Faithful™. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized
Duplication is Prohibited.
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