Thursday, January 14, 2016

The Powerful Attribute of Patience

And I'll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
And every tear I've cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm
- Casting Crowns - Praise You In This Storm Lyrics




This is an incredible sermon from Dr. Charles Stanley
The Powerful Attribute of Patience

Isn't it Romantic? (Scandal)

I had said I would not watch Scandal.  Then I checked it out on Netflix and found it a fairly entertaining show.  Last night's episode has that song "Isn't It Romantic" stuck in my head.  The episode recapped the affair Olivia Pope was having with Hugh (the candidate, president-elect, president).  The story told in flashbacks was steamy, hot, torrid - two deeply in love people constrained by his circumstances (his marriage).  The problem is HE WAS NEVER AVAILABLE.  You knew from the start this was never going to end well.  The sad part is professionally Olivia is BRILLIANT, but thanks to tv writing she still a little girl longing to be loved by the powerful convincing (lying, dishonest, selfish) Fitz.  She regularly tells people to get out of her way and let her do her job - she is a force to be reckoned with...... Still she finds herself (despite her moral struggle) weakly available to this man.  He tells her he loves her - truth - that was incredibly selfish.  Now she knows a man who can offer her nothing but secret stolen moments and sex.  He said he'd give it all up for her.  She should have called his bluff- and said call me when you have given it all up.  Then at least she would know if he was really sincere (or letting his penis blow smoke up her ass).  He knew that the attraction between the was dangerous and inappropriate from jump which was why he told Cy not to hire her.

Then there was the moment Melli found out about the affair.  There is always the moment when the wife or someone will find out.  Olivia's weakness and desperation was exposed.  Then there was the closet scene - hopefully she saw all that could never be hers and realized she was voluntarily cheating herself. 

The good news is this is just tv and the brilliant Shonda Rimes will continue to keep the storyline intriguing.  The good news is this is not the real life of the actors.  The bad news is there are too many women who see only the romance of adulterous affair and not the very real consequences.  In real life the woman in an adulterous affair is the biggest loser - forfeiting her integrity, self-respect, time and opportunity for real and respectful love.