Real love is like the real New York: Manhattan is messy. I mean, not buried in dirt, but not pristine, either. Paris is the same way. Cairo is probably similar, but I haven't been there!
New York also has some great stuff: those vendors selling delicious hot dogs on nearly every corner with the sauerkraut on them. They have Garrett's popcorn, Central Park, cabs, crowds, Broadway, Times' Square. Real love is like the real New York: sometimes, the mess is part of the experience. The fake stuff doesn't cut it.
It struck me that Vegas has done the same thing with love that they've done with New York. In Vegas, there are the places that claim to offer a sensual atmosphere, but it's just another facade. The ads almost look like something real. Something we want. But they're not. They're just fakes. It almost looks better than the real thing--picture perfect.
Trouble is, as I see it, there's this part of the sensual stuff that can't be faked: my emotion. The excitement is real. Even if I recognize the sensual ad for the bogus thing it is, the incited emotion is real. I've heard it said, "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas." But, does it? You leave the ad, the show, the you-name-the-indulgence, but you take something with you.
Baggage.
Anger. Bitterness. The result of a person who has made emotional investments and ended up underwater. And, what's worse? It doesn't feel like it's really directed at anyone or any event. How do you resolve that?
Trouble is, as I see it, there's this part of the sensual stuff that can't be faked: my emotion. The excitement is real. Even if I recognize the sensual ad for the bogus thing it is, the incited emotion is real. I've heard it said, "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas." But, does it? You leave the ad, the show, the you-name-the-indulgence, but you take something with you.
Baggage.
Anger. Bitterness. The result of a person who has made emotional investments and ended up underwater. And, what's worse? It doesn't feel like it's really directed at anyone or any event. How do you resolve that?
I think lust is like unrequited love. There's a real excitement involved. An emotional investment made. The only problem is that the rate of return is guaranteed to be zero. The emotional deficit that follows is destructive.
Lots of men struggle with lust and lots of men struggle with anger management. Perhaps these are connected. Perhaps the cause of the anger problems is related to unresolved baggage--underwater investments--in an emotional sense. Perhaps, it's time for us to break up with our beloved facades.
Real love is like the real New York. Sometimes, it's messy. It's not always like a fantasy but, that's the best part. Unlike a fantasy, real love can love you back.
I have a great suggestion for reading on the subject. The book is an easy read. Check out my post on the book Sex God by Rob Bell.
Lots of men struggle with lust and lots of men struggle with anger management. Perhaps these are connected. Perhaps the cause of the anger problems is related to unresolved baggage--underwater investments--in an emotional sense. Perhaps, it's time for us to break up with our beloved facades.
Real love is like the real New York. Sometimes, it's messy. It's not always like a fantasy but, that's the best part. Unlike a fantasy, real love can love you back.
I have a great suggestion for reading on the subject. The book is an easy read. Check out my post on the book Sex God by Rob Bell.
No comments:
Post a Comment