Sentimental Sundays: Get Carried Away

"If human love does not carry a man beyond himself it is not love. If love is always discreet, always wise, always sensible and calculating, never carried beyond itself, it is not love at all. It may be affection, it may be warmth of feeling, but it has not the true nature of love in it." ~ Oswald Chambers, Feb. 21 entry, "My Utmost for His Highest"

"Get Carried Away" is a phrase that makes me think of two things: a George Strait song and advertising for the "Sex and the City" movies. Today's devotional puts it in the context of love,  and love touches every aspect of our lives. This is nothing new but a nice refresher.

Humans are always getting carried away by love - love of something, anything - including sports, snail mail, money, career, food, salsa on chips, sweets, technology and much more. We will spend significant chunks of time and money to be carried away or witness others being so, which explains our sacrificing sleep to see Olympic greatness in a half-pipe or opening our wallets to watch ho-hum films like "Valentine's Day," whose plot is carried along by the motion of getting carried away.

Whatever we love sweeps us up and dictates our direction in our daily routines (from our morning coffee to whether or not we make time to hit the gym). It also offers a nod to what we consider most meaningful in life (e.g., seeing the world, putting talents to use, serving others and seeking the company of our nearest and dearest).

While we act vs. think when we get carried away, it's worth occasionally reflecting on what carries us away and why. For me today it's coffee, church and cake - because it's a chilly rainy morning, a chilly rainy Sunday morning, and a chilly rainy Sunday morning on which I celebrate 34 years. And now, for another and unnecessary pre-church cup of coffee... and later, a heaping helping of cake. ~ A.F.