695) Sometimes while I’m driving, I hear a song that puts me in a mental time machine and before I know it, I am 35 or more years in the past. If I take the time to follow through in my thinking, I smile and then cringe when my naivete screamed when I judged what I thought was a potential love that would last a lifetime. I realize that some people have the fortunate circumstances to find the love of their life early and are still going strong, but in my case, that would not have been the outcome. In consideration of this, there have been many times that I have thanked God for not giving me what I asked for. Today, in my late 50s, I have the wisdom to see what is lasting and what is merely an emotional reaction.

In Judges 16, Samson makes the mistake of youth; he falls for a woman named Delilah. He does not have the wisdom of thinking this relationship through, nor does he seek wise counsel from others. What he thought was true love and a good decision turned out to be his downfall.

There is nothing wrong with young love, but the wisdom gained through the years knows that sometimes a person is running from something rather than to someone. If Samson had considered this, perhaps he would have had a longer life.