The Missionary Position

If you've been keeping up with my blog, you'll remember I promised to talk about why I thought the missionary position--and yes, I'm talking sex here--why that position should be preferred.

There's a book in the Bible that is about as X-Rated as the Bible gets. In case you're surprised at all, it's the Song of Solomon/Songs.

I learned at a Wednesday Night Bible Study the original Hebrew text had three different verbs for "to love" but English obviously only has one.

The first type of love relates to loving someone like a friend or soulmate; I believe this was raya.

The second verb was about commitment and unity, as well as spending time together. The Hebrew word was ahavah.

Finally, the last word was dod, and it related to the physical bumping, rubbing, and cuddling couples tend to do.

I don't really know when each verb was used in the book (because gosh, darn it I don't speak ancient Hebrew) but I think these three verses were examples of the verbs in use.

Raya (Side note, is it creepy if I've always wanted to tell a girl this verse reminded me of her? For the record, I haven't yet found the girl to whom it would be appropriate.)

Ahavah

Dod

According to the Bible, all three should be present in a marriage, and it's impossible for a romance to survive if it's missing even one of them. The video emphasized this was especially so if one person in the relationship was being satisfied by another individual, outside the original relationship. Also, the three of them together apparently have this deeply profound and spiritual thing going on if you've got them all working in your marriage/sex life. I'm not sure how to paraphrase what the video explained, but it's something like the stuff in Song of Songs said that there are three different parts to it, with each one being just as important as the other, but all three combined are needed for the big picture of just what exactly love is.

Where else in the Bible do we see things divided into three? The Holy Trinity, perhaps? I'm not sure how much of this next stuff was scripture or interpretation of scripture, but if you look at each of the verbs, they tend to fit each part of God.

Jesus calls us friend.

God the Father loves nothing more than spending time with us.

The Holy Spirit guides us in our actions and speech so the glory goes to God.

With all this in mind, it kind of seems to me like the missionary position is the way to go, right? I mean, wouldn't missionaries (if no one else) be more likely to follow God's word to the letter? I'd think they'd know how to love pretty hardcore, anyone disagree?

That's why I prefer the missionary position even if it is less kinky--if you're a future wife reading this, I didn't say I liked it on top, just to be clear.

What follows in this next paragraph is more me reaffirming with myself what I'm looking for in a girlfriend so I don't inadvertently leap at a girl too soon. I fear that because it's been a long time since I've had a genuine girlfriend, I might feel desperate and latch onto a girl God might not have planned for me. Thus, I want to remind myself I'm looking for a God-fearing, Bible-reading woman first and foremost. I know there is one in my future, and I look forward to meeting her; I just pray I have the patience not to get involved with some random chic.

Shut Up, God's Talking.

Phosphofructokinase deficiency, that's my official diagnosis.

In medical terms, this type of Muscular Dystrophy means my body lacks the enzyme that breaks down glucose, therefore, I do not derive any energy from the consumption of carbohydrates. The disease is incredibly rare, requiring both parents to carry the gene even if they don't show symptoms for it to pass on.

In plain old people terms, it means I get tired easily, especially when I'm walking, standing, running, etc. I can't eat pasta to run a marathon on, instead needing a high protein diet at all times. My legs, and to a lesser extent, my back are prone to random and sporadic muscle cramps, twitchiness, and general weakness. None of the medicines out there for Muscular Dystrophy help me, and I'm pretty unique in the disabled world.

Jesus was listening when I was diagnosed.

This is something I've wanted to talk to Emerald about since like two days after she and I first went out to dinner with Crystal and David. I tried a few times, but we never really had time, or if we did, it didn't feel important enough in light of what she had going on.

I think the biggest reason I've wanted to talk about it with Emerald--or any of my Christian friends, honestly--was that I've felt this obnoxious prodding deep down in my gut about how my MD affects me spiritually.

I can't deny the connection exists because, if nothing else, there's a reason I can skim through my Bible at random and notice more verses are highlighted promising strength for the weak than there are anything else. It's not like I don't know God cares for me, or that he doesn't provide the promised strength when I most need it.

For the record, he does.

It boils down to why God made me who I am. There's a reason I have Muscular Dystrophy, and as I often say when sharing my story, I thank God for it.

Still though, in rough spots with MD, it's so much harder to voice those feelings.

I wonder if that's part of the beauty of it, that when I'm physically and emotionally exhausted, people see how difficult it is for me, but my dependence on God comes out more too.

As a disabled person, wheelchair or not, I envy certain things non-disabled persons can do. I don't play sports because most of them would leave me clinically exhausted just practicing. For as long as I can remember, I've thought dancing was the most amazing thing ever, probably because I literally can't dance. Whenever someone runs anywhere, or manages to take these long strides that never seem to tire as we're walking somewhere, I am usually amazed at their step-taking ability. That, or I naturally assume they must have a ton of endurance.

Of course, it's always because they're "normal".

You can probably see I want to be like that because I'm not.

That's where God comes in.

All throughout, the Bible tells stories of miraculous healings, strength for the weary, hope for the hopeless. The Bible also promises God still is capable of such feats.

I feel this is how God has revealed himself to me.

On the days when I am just too exhausted to do it on my own, God steps in.

I cannot describe how it feels when God gives me the strength to keep standing or walking or whatever when my legs were about to give out before I prayed for help. It's like electricity pouring into a pitcher and splashing on the sides, but only in reverse and upside down. Amazing is the only word for it.

Even though I have witnessed God's healing power, I think it's at the times God gives me a strength other than the physical kind that I am closest to God.

God gave me the strength to stand up when I could not, and more than that, he gave me the strength to sit down when I would not.

That's why I believe what I do.

Deep down, I wonder how God can use my disability for his glory, but I also know he can and is.

A while back, a good friend of mine, Jevon, I shared my testimony with him. Due to the pull of the Holy Spirit calling him, he made a decision for Jesus like a month ago. I am humbled and thrilled that my story had any influence on him; every time he talked to me about it, he was moved to tears.

Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?"