Winter Digital_2_2019

MIND, BODY & SOUL
TEXT BY REV. TONY MARCIANO
Living Well in the Shadow of Life
I am the skunk in the Pepé Le Pew cartoon
Remember Block Buster stores? I was banned by my
family from going there and selecting the Friday
night video. My family was terrified I would select a
romantic comedy.
One time my wife was busy and sent me. I searched
the store for romantic comedies but couldn’t find
one. I selected an action movie. As I got to the cashier,
a clerk asked me if I found everything I wanted, to
which I replied, “No. I couldn’t find any romantic
comedies.” Three women replied, “Oh, you like
romantic comedies.” I could have used that as a line
when I was in college to get a date with a woman.
My wife and I are opposites. I am the romantic
one. She will tell you she doesn’t have a romantic
bone in her body. This past Christmas, she banned all
Hallmark Christmas movies from being watched in
our home. We both agreed they all had the same
plot. Country girl leaves high school boyfriend to go
to big city where corporate boss sends her to work
on a real estate development project that just happens
to be in her home town. She meets her high
school boyfriend. He is a widower who has a daughter.
While working on the project, her big city
boyfriend shows up and proposes. She has to make a
decision. Will she say “yes” to him or break up and
marry her high school sweetheart, leaving her plans
for life in the big city? It is always a one minute into
the last moment of the movie that she embraces and
kisses the high school boyfriend. I could have told
you that would happen from the opening five minutes
of the movie.
I’m the skunk in the Pepé Le Pew cartoon, and she
is like the cat. We are opposites, and it works. Here is
the problem with romance (I was doing well with all
the female readers until now) – when we first meet
someone, it’s all hormones. They race at 200 miles
per hour. Unfortunately (I say that as a romantic at
heart) they diminish, and we get to the hard part of
relationships. It moves love from a feeling to an act
of the will. That is where we choose to love this
person.
There are days when I come home and want to
hug and squeeze my wife. There are other days
where I come home and sing that country music
song, “I know what I was feeling, what was I thinking?”
If I relied on my feelings, I’d probably have been
married 20 times by now.
When I counsel singles who are asking what to verse I mentioned earlier also says, “A wife of noble
look for in a future mate, I reply, first is character and character who can find? She is worth far more than
second is chemistry. It’s similar to good hiring practices.
You hire for character because technical skills lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not
rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and
can be taught. Character can’t. If the character isn’t harm, all the days of her life.”
there, the employment will not be a good experience I may not be watching any Hallmark movies
for the employer. I remind dating couples about the around Valentine’s Day this year. That’s ok. I’ve got
scripture that says, “Charm is deceptive, and beauty the real thing. ■
is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be
Rev. Tony Marciano is the President/CEO of the
praised.”
Charlotte Rescue Mission. The Charlotte Rescue
Someone once said, “Love doesn’t always mean
butterflies in your stomach and chasing someone
Mission provides a free long-term Christian recovery
you think is the one.” Sometimes love is what happens
when you know you can trust someone and be drugs and alcohol. For more information, visit our
program for men and women who are addicted to
yourself with them 100% of the time.” The scripture website at www.charlotterescuemission.org
My wife sent me this romantic card.
46 | C H A R LOT TE L I V I N G