Which Shoe?

Here is an exerpt from some participants of a group called 'Just Waiting, No Dating' on My Apostolic Network. I started a discussion that particularly concentrates on the views other's have of courtship. I did some editing, but here's part of the dialogue that we have going.

Question: "Also, couldn't you start courting a guy/girl that you thought was God sent but he/she turned out to be wrong for you? Wouldn't that be same thing as dating one or two boys/girls? Just asking."

Answer: "I think I see your point.. :) You are saying that whether you call it courting or just dating with caution, we are ALL ultimate looking for our spouse. We aren't taking the situation lightly and we are trying to think and analyze what we do or we wouldn't be in here discussing things. I totally agree with you, hun. :)

The point that Barley is making, however, is that to call it "dating" in itself implies a certain flippnacy on the issue in his mind. He associates dating with going from one girl/guy to the next...like going to a shoe store and trying on every pair of shoes till you find the right one. Yes, prayerfully, you would eventually find the right pair, but look at what you had to go through to find it!

Now, in courting, you don't try on the shoes. You examine them, measure them and then measure your foot to see if they would fit. You ask others who have worn those shoes about what they are like and you make a decision with your parents and God at THAT point as to whether to try the shoe on. If you think you shouldn't, you put the shoe back without ever investing in it or getting so involved as to scuff one another up like you do in dating.

There is always going to be the possibility after trying it on that you end up taking it off, but that possibility goes from 80% chance you have in dating to a 20% chance with this process. That way, you can honestly SHOW that you made EVERY effort to be cautious and wise in finding your mate and you know that when you are held accountable for your actions, you will be able to proudly exlpain what happened, why it happened, and why things did/did not work out.

I know that is a really lame analogy, but does it help you understand the point a little better? :) "