Traveling the Rock Road

In the summer of ’71, on an evening when my band was performing at a wedding reception I happened to lay eyes on the prettiest girl I had ever seen, and you better believe I made my move first chance I could. It was a short moment between the two of us, but something special began that evening. After she left the reception, I asked a friend about her and was informed she already had a guy. Second place, well bummer!

Some five months later we reconnected which made me very happy. I wanted to spend every minute with her, but that wasn’t to be. Her parents were good people but they were strict on what they would allow their daughter to do and not do. The biggest restriction was going to dances and parties that I was playing at; they disapproved highly and she would not be allowed to go. Being of the juvenile mindset I had at that age there were numerous times I tried to talk her into sneaking out to be with me, alas she would not have that. As much as she cared for me she cared for her parents more and would not go against her wishes. Second place again. Well Shoot!!

A while later her old boyfriend was coming home from serving in the military and she informed me he was going to make his pitch for them getting back together. I confess I was nervous and wasn’t sure where I would stand after the visit.  Words can’t describe the jubilation that went on in my heart when she sent him packing, telling him it was me she now wanted to be with. Alright! Finally! I’m #1! I’m #1!

Two years from the date we officially started dating she walked down the aisle of a small church in Fremont, Ohio on the arm of her father, to my waiting arms and became Mrs. Cathy Miller. What an incredible day for both of us. It was now official; no more worries of being 2^nd in her life. I would always be her primary love. Well, at least I thought that’s how it worked. But then reality revealed that once again I took the #2 position of importance in her life; well for a while I was confused, even angry. That is until I came to the understanding being #2 gave me more love than I deserved from the greatest gal God could have put in my life. Let me explain.

We had both given our lives to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; it was very important that we begin our marriage proclaiming our love and devotion for Him. But in my way of thinking that was only of the spiritual nature–going to church, praying, reading the Bible and trying to do His will. Physical, mental and emotional love were solely meant for the one He picked to be my helpmeet. And by making her #1, I was showing my love to God; that’s just how it should be the way I thought. But as time went on I came to realize that wasn’t it.

I won’t give you a complete run down of the years we’ve been together; I’ve actually done that already in previous writings. But there have been times of complete disillusionment in God, nearly to the point of rejecting Him in my life. But let there be no doubt that because of Cathy’s #1 love for her Lord, standing firm that He was still caring for us, I came to see and understand that also. Maybe I was ready to give up, but she could not and would not forsake her first love. In holding firm to that position, she demonstrated the incredible love she had for me; that taught me being each other’s #2 love was the most tremendous relationship a couple could ever have.

Matthew 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

My Lady came to know her first Love when she was four years old, and even at that young age she knew that Love would never let her down, never fail her even in the hard times. And she made a promise that He would always be her first Love. Without her example and committed love to God, the life we share would not be what it is today–full, Complete, Awesome! As someone once said, “If you neglect your first love, you inevitably neglect your second.” Or as another said, “Marriage is an ongoing and vivid illustration of what it costs to love an imperfect person unconditionally, just as Christ has loved us.” Case in point, John 3:16.

This Friday these two “Travelers of the Rock Road” God brought together for a brief moment in 1971 will celebrate 44 years of marriage. What an incredible journey it has been! All because of being each other’s Second Place Love. Too Awesome!
See ya next time.