although the words don't perfectly match my personal story, in general it fits as a theme for my relationship with michigan girls (albeit I NEVER "used" them; I always hoped and intended for a serious long-term relationship that would lead to marriage; I NEVER was into the "one night stand" or anything like that; nor "she used me & i used her and neither one card.." , in fact I was intent on celibacy until marriage, even if in a relationship there was natural romantic activity that is not sinful. I will leave it to the speculators whether or not I remained celibate or not. BUT, and this is a BIG BUT (no pun intended) , because my family moved to California from Grand Rapids when I was a junior year in high school, & even though I actually finished high school in GR, & even attended Calvin College for more than 4 years (BA/BA) , ever since 1984 my life rotated around school & home, meaning my "home away from home" was back in southern California (no, not in beverly hills. we were a normal middle class family, even though some of you know who my grandfather is (or was, RIP), (and we wouldn't have lived in BH anyways, even if we could have easily afforded it. Our choice of residence, or my dad's choice, had to do with his profession as a CRC pastor). Anyways, that's an aside. What I am trying to say is that somewhere along the way, despite having been raised in Grand Rapids (but not born. I was born in Iowa ) , people came to think of me as being "from California" even though I only spent brief holidays there. Why did this block me from consecrating a long-term relationship with a girl in michigan. Because somewhere along the way, I started feeling that I needed to "complete the circle" so to speak by actually living in California as an adult .. and almost all , if not all, the michigan girls I knew, were "michigan girls for life". SOme of them romanticized the idea that I was from California.. that was kind of cool for them to tell friends .. but as "romantic" as california sounds and seems in radio songs and the rose parade on new years day and pictures of the beach and dodger stadium, the REALITY is that most michigan girls , or michigan people, unless they are READY to really work hard to make the transition, are NOT actually ready to live in california full time , and start a family etc. These michigan girls are connected to the local benchmarks of their life (their school, the sports, their friends, their family, etc. ) This is natural. I seriously DOUBT I would ever have moved to California on my own if my family had not done so. I would have been a "Michigan boy" for life. There are still times when I wish our family had never moved. THen there are other times where I feel like I am not just enjoying myself, but making a difference "for the kingdom". THis is the ONLY thing that makes sense to me is trying to make a difference for the kingdom. I still return quite often to Grand Rapids and hope to someday have a serious relationship that leads to actual marriage with a female, and I had always hoped that this would be somebody I was familiar with from my tradition in GR but i don't know if that will ever happen and am able to live satisfactorily as a single adult Christian evangelist , if it is God's will for my life, which apparently it is up until now and into the foreseeable future. Thus this song I heard today struck a chord in me.. because the michigan girls ( & one from MOntana) with whom I had relationships but couldn't make them last...some of them were getting that "look in their eyes" but I knew they were NOT willing to move away from home (at most maybe they would move to the other side of Grand Rapids) .. so I had to make the very difficult decision to let it go .. unfortunately..
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for the michigan girls in my life
my song "baby baby don't get hooked on me" (not that u would) unless you want to move to California "Girl you're gettin' that look in your eyes,
and it's starting to worry me.
I ain't ready for no family ties,
nobody's gonna hurry me.
Just keep it friendly girl 'cause I don't want to leave,
Don't start clinging to me girl 'cause I can't breathe.
Baby, baby don't get hooked on me.
Baby, baby don't get hooked on me.
'Cause I'll just use you then I'll set you free.
Baby, baby don't get hooked on me.
Girl you're a hot blooded woman, child,
and it's warm where you're touching me.
But I can tell by your tremblin' smile,
you're seeing way too much in me.
Girl don't… "
and it's starting to worry me.
I ain't ready for no family ties,
nobody's gonna hurry me.
Just keep it friendly girl 'cause I don't want to leave,
Don't start clinging to me girl 'cause I can't breathe.
Baby, baby don't get hooked on me.
Baby, baby don't get hooked on me.
'Cause I'll just use you then I'll set you free.
Baby, baby don't get hooked on me.
Girl you're a hot blooded woman, child,
and it's warm where you're touching me.
But I can tell by your tremblin' smile,
you're seeing way too much in me.
Girl don't… "
#Repent&BeBaptized ! #acceptChrist2bSaved2day !
