Love is a good thing

When some people think of love, they think of sappy romance. They think of a feeling. A fluffy feeling. If they're a follower of Christ (or even if they're not), they might think of sacrifice--of blood.

I bought a song last summer by Andrew Peterson called "Love is a Good Thing." It seemed like a nice song, but I only partially understood it. However, it wasn't until about a month ago that I realized how profound and pertinent this song really is. Looking back, I feel like I can specifically relate to almost every phrase in this song. It's all happened to me. And it's probably all happened to you. Maybe even worse.

But I can tell you right now, after everything I've been through, that Love is a good thing. It is not always a fluffy thing. It is not always an easy thing. It is not always a gentle thing.

But it is always a good thing.

Awhile ago, I was talking about a great traveling opportunity and someone said, "Maybe that's why God didn't want you to go to Hillsdale."

I blinked in surprise. I really appreciated their thoughtfulness in trying to find the "good" out of what seemed last summer like a bad thing, but did they think I still needed that? I already know why God didn't send me to Hillsdale. It's complicated to explain, but I can say now that not going to my dream college was one of the best things that's ever happened to me.

And I'm pretty sure that one of the reasons God didn't send me there is so that I could discover for myself that Love is a good thing.

So I thought I'd share the words to Andrew Peterson's song, partly because they tell my story, and partly because they're practically a sermon all on their own:

It knocked me down, it dragged me out, it left me there for dead.
It took all the freedom I wanted and gave me something else instead.
It blew my mind, it bled me dry, it hit me like a long goodbye,
And nobody here knows better than I that it's a good thing.

Love is a good thing.
It'll fall like rain on your parade,
Laugh at the plans that you tried to make,
It'll wear you down till your heart just breaks
And it's a good thing.
Love is a good thing.

It'll wake you up in the middle of the night, it'll take just a little too much.
It'll burn you like a cinder till you're tender to the touch.
It'll chase you down, and swallow you whole, it'll make your blood run hot and cold.
Like a thief in the night it'll steal your soul, and that's a good thing.
Love is a good thing.

It'll follow you down to the ruin of your great divide,
Open the wounds that you tried to hide.
And there in the rubble of the heart that died
You'll find a good thing.
Cause love is a good thing.
Oh love is a good thing.

Ooo, take cover,
Ooo, the end is near.
Ooo, take cover,
But do not fear,
Do not fear.

Cause it'll break your will, it'll change your mind,
Loose all the chains of the ties that bind.
If you're lucky you'll never make it out alive, and that's a good thing.
Love is a good thing.

It can hurt like a blast from a hand grenade
When all that used to matter is blown away.
There in the middle of the mess it made you'll find a good thing.
Yes, it's worth every penny of the price you pay. It's a good thing.

Love is a good thing --(Ooo, take cover,)
Love is a good thing --(Ooo, the end is near,)
Oh love is a good thing --(Ooo, take cover.)
Do not fear.