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Today is the 24th anniversary of my and Dee’s marriage. This story from the New York Times, by way of News of the Weird (you’ll see why in a moment) reminded me of that event:
Lonely Japanese men (and a few women) with rich imaginations have created a thriving subculture (“otaku”) in which they have all-consuming relationships with figurines that are based on popular anime characters. “The less extreme,” reported a New York Times writer in July, obsessively collect the dolls. The hardcore otaku “actually believes that a lumpy pillow with a drawing of a (teenage character) is his girlfriend,” and takes her out in public on romantic dates. “She has really changed my life,” said “Nisan,” 37, referring to his gal, Nemutan. (The otaku dolls are not to be confused with the life-size, anatomically-correct dolls that other lonely men use for sex.) One forlorn “2-D” (so named for preferring relationships with two-dimensionals) said he would like to marry a real, 3-D woman, “(b)ut look at me. How can someone who carries this (doll) around get married?” [New York Times Magazine, 7-26-09]
I’m thankful that my doll isn’t the 2-D type that makes people look at you weird if you have a public (or any kind of) relationship with it. My doll is the 3-D type that the 2-D desperate weirdo’s wish they had. Dee’s been a wonderful 3-D partner and wife for these 24 years. Maybe I’ve been an ok 3-D husband, too (think Mr. Miyagi: “You pretty okay too.”) . I supposed she’d admit to that just for one day, since it’s sort of a special day. Maybe tomorrow I’ll make Dee mad and she’ll wish I was 2-D and she could just crumple me up and toss me in the trash. But for today, we’ll enjoy the bliss of being 3-D’s together: Doug, Dee, and Do (as in, “I do”).
What would you do if you heard that Jesus was coming at a certain time, day, and place? Would you be curious? Would you be afraid? Would you react like Buddy the Elf, with shouts of joyous expectation? Isaiah 7:14 reads, “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” (NIV) Hundreds of years before the actual birth of Jesus, Isaiah foretold of the event. This is what we celebrate. Colossians 2:9-10 reads, “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.” This baby was God in human form, come to world with a mission and purpose to save sinners from destruction. That’s great news, even for today! I hope I would react like Buddy did if I was told Jesus was coming tomorrow at 10am. Why, because I know Him, the Savior of the world, and I’m excited to one day see Him not just in faith, but with my eyes as well.
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