Stick-to-it-iveness

 

For something to last it has to held together by something that won’t give in or out easily.

You can only know what you know.  Before I looked it up I thought the term sticking point meant the moment at which something becomes glued together.  Guess I was thinking about the word, freezing point. However, the true definition of sticking point is this: “something that people disagree about and that prevents progress from being made.”

So, rather than talk about problems without solutions, let’s talk about things that last a long time and have a certain stick-to-it-iveness.  Speaking of this word, did you know that it means dogged perseverance; tenacity. What’s not to love?   Especially, since we live in a society that would rather run than stay and work out their differences.

A few months ago a thought piqued my interest while I was reading Malcom Gladwell’s book, The Tipping Point.  This thought or phenomenon can best be described as the stickiness factor.  In his book, Gladwell was discussing why some consumer items are considered sticky and remain viable over long periods of time, while others do not hold their own and eventually die off.  

For my money, nothing better epitomizes the stickiness factor than the traditional wedding vows.  To have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish:  from this day forward until death do us part.  Which is answered by these simple two words: I DO.  Sadly, too many people are really answering, I do for now, but let’s wait and see if it all works out.

The phrase which sticks out in these vows for me is for better or for worse, which I believe is stick-to –it-iveness, like glue, in any good relationship. Will you both be willing to persevere despite hard times, conflict and whatever may come?  Faithful perseverance, not blind faith is the key here. The reason I am thinking about such is my wife and I are now on our 26^th year together and sometimes I wonder how. My answer is simple: we enjoy being with one another, more than not.

Like better or for worse, life is often made up of another sticky question, do you?  This is what people in a long relationship ask when they no longer feel in love: do you? This is something a child, either born into or adopted in their family asks their parents about their love for them, do you? This is something that Jesus asked Peter after the resurrection about his love for Him, before He leaves for Heaven: do you?

For better or for worse and do you are burning questions not of emotion, but of devotion. Neither of the above phrases should be used lightly.  Marriage, loving a child, following God or any deep relationship is not for the faint of heart because it takes commitment.  It involves emptying yourself of all but love; it requires a love that is sticky.

Love is the stick-to-it–iveness that glues all of our important relationships together.

Swavel