The 42nd Iteration . . .

Good Son-Day Morning!!!

Sunday Social


The 42nd Iteration . . .

. . . of a constantly growing, evolving, and rewarding romance will begin on Tuesday.  The last 41 iterations have been “Yar” (i.e., a nautical term for a grand ship built right for fun and action).  In our journey together, we have come to appreciate the honor and privilege of a relationship honed by the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Last Sunday, my dear curious sister, Molly, asked me to write about our relationship. 

I will start by saying the legacy or our marriage will not be about it’s longevity.  It will be about why we been together and looking for more.  It will be about what “God has put together” (Mark 10:9).   HE blesses individuals and HE blesses marriages.

Some marriages are like a horror film comparable to “The Bride of Frankenstein”.  The preferred comparison is to have a rom-com-adventure marriage like “The Jewel of the Nile”; which was fun, loving, and adventurous.  These attributes make for a connection you are committed to nurture.  You continue the courting process that made you fall in love..

I met Jo at North Central University in 1978 when I had a big wavy afro, chiseled musculature, and stood 6’ 4”.  I was tall, dark, and handsome. Allow me some poetic license here.  

Since there were only 6 men from my tribe, I was not hard to find.  I saw Jo while she was singing for the chapel choir.  The Southside mezzo alto songstress put soul and spirit into their performance. Who is this delightful 5’3” vision of radiance?  It only took me two weeks to add the chapel choir to my coursework to learn more about her.

During one of our concerts, we sang the song, “The Healer”.  In it, I had to literally do a baritone growl on these lyrics . . . “He was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for iniquities”. I did it and Jo noticed and complimented me on my deep bass, Barry White like, vocal skills.  And that was the start of a million enriching conversations that continue to this day.  This was the start of our adventure together.

For you true Minneapolitans, our first date was at the Venice Café located next to the World Theatre in downtown Minneapolis.  

I was trying to show her I was cultured and continental by ordering for both of us.  I ordered a salad and a pizza with extra anchovies.  Never mind that I‘ve that never ate the sea critters my entire life.  Needless to say my naivete was on full display.  The salt of the anchovies tasted like a mouth full of the Atlantic Ocean.  We both only ate one bite of the pizza.  To boot, a big brown roach decided to take a stroll across our table.  He did not go into plates.  Even he knew enough to stay away from anchovies. Sigh, the bug was smarter than me.

I thought, this is my first and probably last date with this beautiful woman.  Yet, we continued to talk. She allowed me to make up for that date fiasco with another date. We went to Orchestra Hall  to see an opera.  Yes, opera!  Jo wanted to go and I needed a classy recovery.  I actually found I liked the live performance. Here is where I began to appreciation of anyone who is skillful in what they do.  Be it sports, entertainment, speaking, teaching, leading, or craftsmanship.

Jo brought out that side of me.  She continues to bring out the best in me; which makes me want to have and to hold her, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, cherish, and to obey, till death us do part, according to God's holy ordinance.

Vows are to be kept, especially when the union is ordained by God.  The one in the preceding paragraph I said once, but I have actively tried to fulfill it with gusto the last 15,330 days.  Allow God to guide your marriage and the vow will be easily and wonderfully kept. 

Songs of the Week-----Lyrics below.

“You Bring Out the Best in Me”, 1987,  Vanessa Bell Armstrong, stirring, moving testimony.  What Jo does daily for me. 

“Let’s Stay Together”, 1972, Rev. Al Green. My love jam to Jo.  

You Bring Out the Best in Me

I thought that I could make it, thought I was doing just fine.
But when my heart was breaking, you were just in time.
I never knew that I could feel this way, oh what a change your love has made.
You bring out the best in me always, I thank you!

Oh how I long to see you, there’s burning inside, ooh, ooh
Every since I met you, you’ve been first in my life (you’ve been first in my life)
You said you never go, I need your love, I want the world to know!
You bring out the best in me always;
(The best) I thank you, (you and I) yeah, yeah, yeah
You bring out the best in me always; (The best) yes you do (in me)

If it wasn’t for your love, tell me where would I be?
Never knew so much joy so amazing to me!
When all hope was gone, your love lifted me!
Turned my life around with one touch of your hand!
You bring out the best in me! (The best) Youuuuuu!
You bring out, you bring it out, bring out the best in me
You, you, you, you, you, you bring out boy! Heyyyyyy!

(You bring out the best in me) I love you, I love you, you love me (The best)
You bringing out the joy, (You and I) I got so much joy!
You bring out the best in me
You bring it out, nothing but the best, (The best)
You won’t settle for nothing less, (in me) oh yeah
(You bring out the best in me) You bring out the best in me
I’m so glad that you do, that you do, (The best)
that you do, you do, you do (You and I)

Oh you bring out the best (in me);
I didn’t know which way to go, which way to turn (The best)
You told me, you would be there (in me) always,
(You bring out the best in me)
Every day, every hour (The best) oh, oh, oh, oh, oh (You and I)
You bring out the best (in me), the best, the best

 

Let’s Stay Together

I'm, I'm so in love with you

Whatever you want to do

It's alright with me

'Cause you make me feel so brand new

I want to spend my life with you

The same things, baby,

since we've been together

Ooh, loving you forever

Is what I need

Let me be the one you come running to

I'll never be untrue

 

Ooh, baby, let's, let's stay together

Loving you whether, whether times are

good or bad, happy or sad

Whether times are good or bad, happy or sad

 

Why somebody, why people break up?

Oh, turn around and make up

I just can't see

You'd never do that to me (Would you, baby?)

So to be around you is all I see

Is what I want us to

Let's, we ought to stay together

Loving you whether, whether times are

good or bad, happy or sad

 

Let's, let's stay together

Loving you whether, whether times are

good or bad, happy or sad

 


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