When John and I were falling in love there was enough affection to fill a cruise ship. Actually a lot of couples go on cruise ships, so boats are probably pretty saturated with romance. At times it can feel like too much. I went to visit my sister in Boston and could barely stand to be away from John for a hundred hours. Really? Sometimes in those early days he and I would sit in the same chair, in order to be as
close as possible.
Maybe you have been near a dreamy eyed couple and wished they could focus on anything besides each other. Love is fine, but too much can feel like extra maple syrup after your waffles are all gone. What are you supposed to do with it?
The other day a woman told me her feelings for her husband were depleted. There wasn't enough to get her through the day. They have been married for awhile, and the abundant supply they started out with has run out. A hundred hours apart would be easy. A relief maybe. Sitting in the same room bordered on overcrowding.
It smacks of Goldilocks. Too much. Not enough. When will it ever be just right?
There is a story in the book of Genesis about Joseph in Egypt. He interprets Pharoah's dream about seven fat cows and seven thin cows to be a prediction.
Indeed seven years of great plenty will come throughout all the land of
Egypt; but after them seven years of famine will arise, and all the plenty
will be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine will deplete the land. So the plenty will not be known in the land because of the famine following, for it will be very severe. Genesis 41
When a couple is in the seven years of famine phase, they cannot even remember how they were swimming in adoration a mere seven years before. The notion that abundance could possibly return seems preposterous.
But I find reassurance in rereading the script.
