Chapter 2

An Unknown Romancing

Each of us has a geography where the Romance first spoke to us. It is usually the place we both long to see again and fear returning to for fear our memories will be stolen from us. (14)

My childhood backyard was a real special place for me. I was the youngest of three girls....and my sisters were 8 and 10 years older than me. Because of the age difference, I spent a lot of time in my backyard playing by myself. It was my imaginary "whatever". However, I also remember it was my place of solitude as well. I often spent time in the corner of the backyard just sitting, listening, watching the sky, and thinking. To this day, I couldn't tell you what exactly I thought about....but I knew God was there and He loved me.

My parents still live in that same house I grew up in. The backyard....well, it doesn't seem the same. Apparently, the 'magic' is lost after many years. But...I never give up an opportunity to be back there alone just in case.

Indeed, if we reflect back on the journey of our heart, the Romance has most often come to us in the form of two deep desires: the longing for adventure that requires something of us, and the desire for intimacy--to have someone truly know us for ourselves, while at the same time inviting us to know them in the naked and discovering way lovers come to know each other on the marriage bed. (19)

What does the Romance mean to you?