just a Kiss

This song has been a long time coming.  In fact, this song and "Not Myself" are the two reasons I started this series in the first place.  However, while this song has been on my heart it just hasn't been the time to write it, there always seemed to be a song I needed to talk about more (isn't there always?) so this one has been on the back burner and I'm excited that it's finally time to share this brilliant song!  Without further ado, the song of the week:

Artist: Lady Antebellum
Song: Just A Kiss
Lyrics:
Lyin' here with you so close to me
It's hard to fight these feelings when it feels so hard to breathe
Caught up in this moment
Caught up in your smile

I've never opened up to anyone
So hard to hold back when I'm holding you in my arms
We don't need to rush this
Let's just take it slow

Just a kiss on your lips in the moonlight
Just a touch of the fire burning so bright
No I don't want to mess this thing up
I don't want to push too far
Just a shot in the dark that you just might
Be the one I've been waiting for my whole life
So baby I'm alright, with just a kiss goodnight

I know that if we give this a little time
It'll only bring us closer to the love we wanna find
It's never felt so real, no it's never felt so right

Just a kiss on your lips in the moonlight
Just a touch of the fire burning so bright
And I don't want to mess this thing up
I don't want to push too far
Just a shot in the dark that you just might
Be the one I've been waiting for my whole life
So baby I'm alright, with just a kiss goodnight

No I don't want to say goodnight
I know it's time to leave, but you'll be in my dreams
Tonight
Tonight
Tonight

Just a kiss on your lips in the moonlight
Just a touch of the fire burning so bright
No I don't want to mess this thing up
I don't want to push too far
Just a shot in the dark that you just might
Be the one I've been waiting for my whole life
So baby I'm alright, oh, let's do this right, with just a kiss goodnight
With a kiss goodnight
Kiss goodnight

This, to me, is one of those songs I could listen to on repeat all day and not be sick of it (in fact, that's already happened a few times!).  This song speaks so eloquently to that rush of emotions we tend to experience at the beginning of a budding new relationship.  Its fun to be a part of something new, something full of promise and hope and better days and good things all around.  The butterflies flap their wings crazily in our stomachs as our hearts leap for joy at the wonder that lies before us in a new relationship.  But this song doesn't stop there, it goes on to advocate for taking things slow and there can't be too much said about that!  We often want to rush into a relationship instead of taking time to let God slowly build up the relationship that He is calling us to.  Erich Segal once said, "true love comes quietly, without banners or flashing lights.  If you hear bells, get your ears checked."  We are all too often looking for the "firework" moments, when sparks fly (thank you Taylor Swift) and fail to appreciate the little things, the small tokens of affection.  Then, as the relationship progresses we grow bored because the firework moments fade.  But if we start slow then we appreciate one another all the more as the relationship progresses.

Hillary Scott starts out by singing about how hard it is to hold back those feelings, how hard it can be to guard our hearts, especially in the beginning of a new relationship.  We get caught up in the moment, caught up in the sweetness of it all.  Someone once told me, if you are going to be with this person forever (and its my belief that if you are dating or courting that you are looking towards Sacramental marriage, not just the dating game) then why rush?  You have the rest of your lives together, take it slow.  In fact, that's exactly what the song says, "we don't need to rush this, let's just take it slow."  I also love that this song is a bit of a duet with Charles Kelley singing about how he's never opened up before and its hard to hold back with this woman in his arms.  Now, I'm not a guy so I can't really speak for men, but for women it can be so hard to hold back, but it is so important to guard our hearts.  Why?  Scripture tell us, "with all vigilance guard your heart, for in it are the sources of life" (Proverbs 4:23).  What are the sources of life?  God Himself, guard God who seeks to make His dwelling place in your heart.

And then comes the chorus, and it packs a good punch or two!  (And if you listen to the song, the music just explodes at the chorus, which is awesome!)  Just a kiss.  Let me say that again, just a kiss, nothing more.  The "just" is not something unimportant as if the kiss doesn't matter, but the "just" here makes the kiss more meaningful because that is all there is.  Just a kiss on your lips in the moonlight, just a touch of the fire burning so bright.  If we want to keep that fire burning brightly we sit by it to warm ourselves, we don't throw ourselves (or our significant other) head first into the fire, that's not loving.  We simply warm ourselves by it, for it we throw ourselves at it then the fire will eventually die with us on top of it.  We don't want to mess this up, we don't want to go too far, so let's not throw ourselves or our significant other into the fire.  Guard each others hearts.  Guard the God in the other person's heart.  Learn to be alright with a kiss goodnight, knowing that you are protecting each other's hearts.

The next two lines are my favorite in the whole song, "I know that if we give it a little time it'll only bring us closer to the love we want to find."  Utter and complete genius...and so difficult to live out, which just makes the truth in these lines that much more important.  Its not easy to guard our hearts, its not easy to take it slow, especially when it seems that everyone and everything around us is telling us to go, life is short, life fast.  But, if we give it a little time, if we let God work through our hearts, it only brings us closer to the Love we want to find.  No, that Love isn't a typo.  If we take our time, the new relationship can (and really should) bring us closer to the Love (God) we want to find.  True, it will also bring us closer to each other, but more impotantly it should bring us closer to God.

No, we don't want to say goodnight.  We don't want to say goodbye, we want to spend hours upon hours with our new "flame"...or as Fr. Chris used to say in college "sweet babboo".  Its new, its exciting and we don't want to leave, but leaving helps guard our hearts as well.  We know its time to leave, but that person will be in our dreams (and our prayers!).  John Eldredge writes, "There is a rhythm to life together.  We first go to God, alone, so that we have something to bring back to the community."  If a couple doesn't find their strength first from God then they are doomed from the beginning - God must fill our hearts and from that overflow of His love we love others.

Lord, may You fill our hearts with Your love, may you grant us patience and a calm heart as we seek to know and love You more.  AMEN.