Romancing the Soul by Julianne Pearson

When you hear the word romance, what images come to mind?  Does candle light dinners?  Does a box of chocolate candy along with long stemmed red roses?  Even possibly, a hot bubble bath followed by a steamy sexual rendezvous?

Unfortunately, all of these portrayed images of romance have been heavily influenced by the spirit of the current worldly culture at large.  Various commercials, advertisements, television shows, and movies have bombarded our minds to accept their carnal definitions of romance without even a second thought.  However, today I would like to challenge you to go deeper in your understanding and raise your commitment level of practical application, as we discover together how valuable divine romance can be for the sustainability of any relationship.  By the time you finish reading this blog, you will realize that true romance makes a life-changing and lasting impact, far beyond the short shelf-life of any physical encounter.  Why?  Simply because romancing the soul is rooted and anchored in Love not lust.  Let me explain.

It is important to understand that someone in the relationship equation must have an accurate understanding of Love in order for romance to be present.  In order to fully embrace the revelation of romancing the soul, let’s begin by refreshing our understanding of what a soul consist of and how romance relates to each part.

Our soul is comprised of three parts:  our mind (the way we think), emotions (how we feel), and our will (our behavior based upon our thinking patterns and feelings).  To romance one’s mind is to be acutely aware of their intricate design by seeking to understand them before seeking to be understood by them.  To romance one’s emotions is to be aware of their places of pain and choose to minister healing instead of adding more hurt to the injury.  Therefore, the recipient’s will (behavior) reciprocates romance when the aforementioned Love acts are exhibited towards them.  In essence, you reap what you’ve sown.  The measure in which you give will be the measure given back to you. 

Therefore to successfully romance the soul of someone we claim to love, we must make a personal effort to learn and lovingly display the attributes of romance.  Are you ready?  Let’s go deep…

R = Relate

Romancing the soul begins with having the capacity to relate.  This means what’s important to those we claim to love becomes very important to us.  This eradicates mere lip service!  While we apply the principle of relating, our lifestyle becomes our mouthpiece. 

O = Opportunity

Everyday we must look, listen, and fill the voids in others’ life experiences.  With clarity of vision, we are endowed with the spiritual capacity to see where deficiencies lie.  Not to criticize or expose, of course.  However, opportunities arrive to give us the privilege of being an agent of healing while they endure their personal process to wholeness.

M = Meekness

I believe meekness is the fruit of power where one is graced to govern their own soul, dealing wisely with the ignorant and erring.  This is where pride must die so that we can become other-centered and have the ability to see the flickers of light in the midst of darkness.  Meekness also gives us the divine empowerment to choose gracefully which hills to die on!  This invokes a couple of questions, “Although I am right, will I really win?  Is it worth what it’s ultimately going to cost me?”  Most often, it’s not!

A = Acute Awareness

Being acutely aware increases one’s level of spiritual discernment in regards to perceiving an opportunity – the time and season.  Therefore, this is the divine wisdom to know what to do, when to do it, and how to properly function in the opportunity.  There may appear to be an opportunity to do something; however, it may not be the best time.  Consequently, due to being discernment deficient, one may lose the positive, lasting impact they desire.

N = Noteworthy

Since everyone is “wired” differently, romance has numerous definitions.  In essence, the receiver is the one that determines the definition of romance for them, not the giver.  Therefore, when we are the giver, being acutely aware (sensitive to the slightest details) enables us to create noteworthy moments more frequently.

C = Care

Most have heard the quote, “People do not care how much you know until they know how much you care!”  As our desire to romance the soul of those we claim to love increases, it is imperative that we choose to handle them with care through constant communication, acute awareness, revelation, and from eternal perspectives.  The ministry of reconciliation should always be the motivating force behind our decisions and choices.

E = Entrust

In my opinion, “entrust” is the icing on the cake of romance.  As we stand grounded in Love and exhibit the attributes of romance, we become qualified to be a “safe place” for someone else’s heart.  In choosing not to exploit their areas of weakness, we become a place of refuge, a haven if you will.  As a h.a.v.e.n., we are a place of healing that is acutely aware of the importance of operating from voluntary self-sacrificing and eternal perspectives which enables us to network by capitalizing on each others’ strengths while minimizing the exposure of individual weaknesses.  In essence, we become a place where they can experience the Unconditional Love and Peace of the Lord! 

You may be wondering why I repeatedly stressed “claim to love” throughout the blog.  The reason is without the corresponding actions of Love, our claims are empty confessions void of application.  I am hopeful this ministry of practicality equips you with the romantic tools necessary to make a significant, long-lasting impact on those whom you have the privilege to re-present Love and build your life with. 

Can you believe…I’m so excited for you!  For I believe romancing the soul has a long-lasting impact with returns that will richly bless you and your descendants for years to come!

© 2011 Julianne Pearson

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Gender Swap by Julianne Pearson

Just a few days ago, a question was posed to my husband that actually caused me to take pause.  Although he only had a few moments to mentally formulate his answer and deliver it with clarity similar to the events in the Miss America and Miss Universe competitions, I embraced the opportunity of time to ponder the question and decide what my response would be if I was asked that same question.  Are you curious?  Ok…I won’t make you wait another moment.  The question was:

If you could be the opposite sex, what advantages would there be?

      Interestingly, if someone had asked me this question some twenty-five years ago, I would have been able to quickly rattle off a list of advantages that I thought came with being the other gender.  Why, because my perspective came from being raised in a male-chauvinistic household where the male children seemed to have way more freedom and privileges than the female children.  The unbalanced scales or double standards based upon gender alone left me feeling bitter and resentful for many years.

      However, God has a wonderful way of healing our distorted perceptions.  As I began to study the family infrastructure from a Kingdom Perspective (God’s Imagination), I began to rejoice and praise God for purposefully creating me as a female and not male.  That’s right!  The very thing I despised being and considered a liability, I actually now view as a wonderful opportunity and a huge asset.  WOW!  Healing does wonders for one’s lenses! (Now, that’s a Word for somebody!)

      Consequently, I continued to ponder this question.  I could no longer readily list the advantages of being a male now that my King-Father has given me a greater understanding of the enormous responsibility each male-man carries.  The Kingdom Expectation of every godly man is to be a lover, savior, healer, provider, protector, defender, sustainer, nurturer, deliverer, and an initiator of peace…just to name a few.  And unfortunately, most males have not had the privilege of having a godly man as an example or mentor to emulate.  Therefore in essence, the blind have been leading the blind.  The rejected are rejecting.  The neglected are being neglectful.  The abused are perpetuating the cycle of abuse which causes the wounded to be purveyors of more hurt.   

      As Al and I discussed my answer, after I had what should have been ample time to formulate my response, I stated...

The Advantage of being a male is that I would be able to plant different seeds!

      Since every male scientifically and metaphorically is a farmer – a seed sower – one who releases seed in the earth, I would enjoy having the opportunity to sow a different seed so that a different harvest could come forth.  Although there are times different does not mean better, in this case and in my opinion, it does!  As a female-man, I am not too happy with the harvest I have been seeing in the earth due to the seeds that have been and continue to be sown by male-men.  The harvest that this earth is experiencing is no longer acceptable to me.  I expect more, for each seed deserves more.  Please let me explain.

The INSANITY has to Stop!

      Insanity is frequently defined as “doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”  Therefore, if we ever expect for things in this earth to be any different, we have to begin doing something different.  However, one thing that concerns me is how we have become comfortable with the abnormalities of the current “state of human affairs.”  Therefore, we no longer appear to live with the expectation that things could be different.  Again, I expect more, and each seed deserves more.

      So as a farmer – a seed sower – I would…

·        Experience (fellowship) true Love (God) so that I could be love.

·        Pursue my healing; for hurt people hurt people and healed people heal people.

·        Be very careful of the seeds (actions) I sowed into my soil (wife, mother of my children, or children), knowing that my actions will determine the condition of their souls (mind, emotions, and will).

·        NOT need the court system to tell me when and how to financially provide for my children and family.

·        Never consider babysitting my own children, instead find joy in watching over my children.

·        Be an initiator of peace, quickly apologizing or being the mender of any breach – whether it’s my fault or not – so that an atmosphere of tranquility would be provided to foster positive growth.

·        Spend more time investing in my children than simply buying for my children; for they need my presence more than my presents.

·        As a step-parent, understand the privilege I’ve been given to cultivate a seed I didn’t naturally sow and yet have the potential to enjoy its harvest.

      Have I caused you to take pause and consider the seeds you’ve been sowing – whether you’re a male or a female?  Then purpose has been fulfilled.  Today, choose to change for a change!  Begin to surround yourself with others that cause you to expect more.  Arrest faulty mindsets that provoke your paradigms that will ultimately alter your behavior patterns.  This will allow you to reap a more bountiful harvest.  Again I challenge you to start expecting more!  For our seeds and the earth deserve more!  MUCH MORE!!!

© 2011 Julianne Pearson

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