Deer and Sex

I went canoeing last week, and saw a bunch of herons and only a single deer.  I'd gone in hoping to see deer in abundance, but I came out glad I only had seen one.  Why?  The herons were exciting to see at first, but after a while the excitement and value began to wear off.  "Another heron..."  Looking back on the day, there's no one heron that I saw that I can remember fondly.  No powerful moment to recall.

The deer on the other hand, I will remember for a long time.  I was floating downriver in advance of the canoe (my dad was in it, and don't worry--I had my life jacket on), and I looked up and saw the deer standing above me on the bank staring at me.  As I floated downstream, I stopped paddling (aside from trying and failing to maneuver over to a log so I could look at the deer longer) and simply stared at the deer as it stared back at me.  It was a very neat moment, and because there was only that one deer, it was unique and extra special to me.

I realized as I thought about that that I am also thankful that God has only one woman planned for me "to have and to hold, to love and to cherish" as long as I live.  This is just another example of how God knows best and man is good at messing stuff up, because the attitude that is prevalent today (and one that I've been tempted to succumb to) is that marriage is not expected to be life long or to be waited for, that spiritual matters are unnecessary for commitment and love, and that sex is only good for physical pleasure and entertainment.

Instead, I know that God intends for me to find one woman whom He fitted me to match with emotionally, spiritually, and physically, to commit myself to her alone for life, and to grow our relationship spiritually, emotionally, and physically as time goes on.  When I view a sexual relationship as a powerful bond designed by God to connect two people into one, and not to be cheapened or possibly damaged by sharing it with many people for quick pleasure, I realize God's wisdom and blessing.

I also have faith that God has good plans for me, and that if I enter into a loving marriage ordained by God, He will bless us--so there's no need to test the waters to make sure my future wife and I are "sexually compatible."  Where love and emotional (and especially spiritual) intimacy are present, then sexual compatibility is sure to follow.  Thank You, God, for knowing us better than we know ourselves, and informing us of the wonderful designs you have for us!