Love (Part 1 of 2)

You don't fall in love.

I know that may be an unpopular ideal but that doesn't make it any less true.

To help you see my position I'll have to make a confession.

I watch the Bachelor, Bachelorette, Bachelor Pad, Bachelor Shuffle, Bachelor Phone…..or whatever else they throw on the television.  It's one of Anita's and my guilty pleasures.  I'm not sure if we watch it for the train wrecks or for the very unlikely chance of seeing two people make a future together.  None the less, we watch.

On shows like the Bachelor, the phrase "I'm really falling in love," is repeated as often as the word "like" in the vocabulary of an eighth grade girl.  It didn't bother me at first, but after episode 1,237 (approx) I was forced to think through the idea of "falling in love."  And I found my conclusion. 

Love is a choice.

Being "in love" is when our affection & natural attraction begins to turn our thoughts and actions toward an individual or even idea.  However, even when those very real affections and very powerful natural attractions begin their turning, we still make a decision.  We choose our response to these influences.  We decide to give in or to resist.  

Each and every time you've experienced love, whether in hurt or happiness, you've made the choice to open an emotional and mental door to love.  We either allow the affections and attraction to take over or we fight them until our will overcomes them.  Either that or we fight them until someone else begins to steal those very affections and attraction.  

So, what do you say about my theory?  I'd love to hear what you think.  In part two I'll share what I believe the response and aftermath should look like.