“I am my lover’s and he claims me as his own. Come, my love, let us go out to the fields and spend the night among the wildflowers. Let us get up early and go to the vineyards to see if the grapevines have budded, if the blossoms have opened, and if the pomegranates have bloomed. There I will give you my love.” 7:11-12

I love the imagery here. Partnering up with someone and delighting in all life has to offer together.

It made me think of my friend Emily. Anytime she is sharing something personal about her life on social media, she presents it as an experience with her husband. (She’s probably like that in person too, but our friendship is long distance and primarily hinges on social media.) Whether it’s her job, plans she’s looking forward to, her experience in nature, health struggles or her relationship with the Lord, her husband is intertwined in the story. It’s so lovely and wonderful, like he’s just an extension of her own life. He’s not just a side character in her story, they’re mutually writing one together.

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Why do you think this book is in the Bible? It’s easy to think the Bible is a list of strict, exclusive rules that don’t leave room for humanity. It’s only easy to think that if you don’t read it very often!

God embraces every part of our humanity. There’s isn’t anything he doesn’t “get” or acknowledge. He makes room for it all and he’s in and for you, every single part of you.

-Carly