Rental Review

I watched "The Notebook" last night with Lexi and I have to admit that it really got to me. For those of you that have not seen this movie I would certainly recommend it. I'm not going to say too much about the movie itself, because I don't want to spoil it for anyone that hasn't seen it, but there were a couple of things that really struck me about the film.
I typically don't like romances because I find them shallow. Our culture worships the love god and I find that it turns my stomache. There are so many movies and stories about "true love", fighting for "true love", and attaining it. Our culture believes that if we can only find that someone that we truly love then our passion will empower us to overcome all adversity. Frankly, that's bull. Love is not the Holy Spirit. Love pails in comparison to Him. When love doesn't work out we say that it must not have been true love. Again: bull. Love is always making outlandish claims and impossible promises, and yet love is known for being fickle and untrue to its word. I don't care for "love" stories because they claim that "love conquers all". Unless love is bound by temperance, justice, and fortitude it will accomplish nothing.
"The Notebook" really hit home for me because it reminded me of the love that is and was modeled to me by my parents and grandparents, especially my father and grandfather. When my grandfather almost died of a heart attack he could only think of one thing: He wanted to reach his 50th wedding anniversary. "The Notebook" was a difficult film for me because it brought back a lot of memories of my grandparents, who are no longer with us. It reminded me of the call that Christ has put on me as a man.
Christ has called men to love their wives like Christ loves the church. Men are made kings in their home as Christ is King, but as my man Lewis once said, our crown is one of thorns (If you haven't read "Four Loves", and you are a human being that loves, I suggest you pick it up). Loving a woman means sacrifice and servitude. Love is not a moral law unto itself, it is not a virtue, and it is certainly not a god. We must take care not to worship this god of love when our praise and obedience is due to God Love.