I’ve had the joy of being in the wonderful state of California over the past 2 weeks. It’s been an incredible time catching up with family and friends, eating good food, soaking up some very hot sun, and visiting some very fun places.

Yesterday we were at the most fun place of all – Disneyland – ‘the place where the magic happens!’ Our 10 year old had the day of his life and his two parents weren’t far behind him in their enjoyment. It is an incredible place and somewhere which often leaves me asking questions. One of the many things I was struck by as I walked the 20+ thousand steps around the park yesterday was the sheer volume and variety of people that were there. There were so many different nationalities, backgrounds, colours, shapes, sizes, and expressions (all with the budget to be there of course). There were so many sights to see, things to do. I watched and joined in with people in awe of the shows, rides and fireworks. I listened as we heard the voices talk about the magic of imagination, animation. It truly was an incredible experience and a fascinating place to people watch.

This morning, still sleepy and a little hungover (from park food and lots of walking – not anything sinister), I was reading the book of Proverbs. It’s a book which is a collection os sayings, quotes, and wisdom written by King Solomon. In his own words it is for; “for gaining wisdom and instruction; for understanding words of insight; for receiving instruction in prudent behavior, doing what is right and just and fair; for giving prudence to those who are simple, knowledge and discretion to the young— Proverbs 1:1-4.

As I was reading it I came across a simple little verse that had me thinking about the people I saw in Disney and the many others in this state of sunshine I find myself.

What a person desires is unfailing love….. Proverbs 19:22a

I know it’s simple, but it’s profound truth struck me. All of those thousands of people (including me) that I saw yesterday spending their money on light sabers, teddies, fast passes, never mind their Disney tickets, want a love that will never fail. They want to be known, adored, held, valued, championed in a way that will never let them down.

Almost every action we make, every friendship we form, is ultimately us trying in some inadequate way to make this happen. We try to buy it, manipulate it, force it, unconsciously control it, because we desire it so greatly. In fact reading further down the passage I came across verse 6 in chapter 20 which sits well alongside this thought.

Many claim to have unfailing love, but a faithful person who can find Proverbs 20:6

The conclusion every human will end up with after all our chasing and searching is that we are incapable of finding unfailing faithfulness and love on our own. We have our moments, and some people are better than others, but at our core we are unable to sustain this kind of love.

However, those of us who follow Jesus should have discovered that there is someone who can. Someone who is capable of loving unconditionally. Someone who is faithful throughout all of our melodramas. Someone who sees us as we are and cares for us regardless. Jesus.

There is something profoundly reassuring about knowing this, something that frees our souls from the search for this illusive love elsewhere. When we live in the knowledge of His love and lean back in the assurance of a relationship with Him we begin to release the expectation we put on any other person, action or possession to do this for us. This not only helps us but the release of this expectation takes the pressure of those relationships, it decreases our anxiety around those moments, and ushers in a freedom that allows not just us to slow and be who Christ has created us to be but others also.