The station that I listen to at work has thankfully not switched over to Christmas music yet, so that leaves us bank tellers dancing to pop music in our down time.  Normally, I'm more of a Folk Music - think Mumford and Sons - or Pop Rock - Ed Sheeran, Ben Rector - kind of gal.  So I'm getting to hear songs that normally don't even touch my playlist.  Last week, the big song that played over and over (and over and over and over) was Selena Gomez's new tune Same Old Love.  The refrain is especially haunting.  

I'm so sick of that same old love, that ****, it tears me up

I'm so sick of that same old love, my body's had enough.
Oh, that same old love.  Oh, that same old love.

I'm so sick of that same old love, feels like I've blown apart
I'm so sick of that same old love, the kind that breaks your heart.

Oh, that same old love.  Oh, that same old love. 

What if someone told Selena that life, and love, didn't have to hurt so much?  That there was more to life than just that same old love, and that she in fact deserved and was created for more? And that love, if performed in the manner it was created for, could actually be a beautiful NEW love that reflected the unconditional love of a heavenly Father?

"Purity?" They ask.  And they smile.  They are the ones who go onto marriage with worn-out bodies and disillusioned souls." - Saint Josemaria Escriva 

Love isn't meant to tear you up, or break your soul, heart and body.  That's not what love was created for.  In fact, God is the author of love and the creator of your soul in His image, so love is supposed to point back to him.  What? God? Love? Yes - He does have a lot to do with relationships and interactions with other human beings...despite the culture that constantly tells us to keep God out of our relationships and out of our bedrooms.

"God who created man out of love also calls him to love the fundamental and innate vocation of every human being. For man is created in the image and likeness of God who is himself love. Since God created him man and woman, their mutual love becomes an image of the absolute and unfailing love with which God loves man. It is good, very good, in the Creator's eyes."
- Catechism of the Catholic Church 1604

We are all called to a vocation of love - despite what "Big V Vocation" we are called to.  That is the one concept that I find the most beautiful in everything surrounding vocational discernment.  No matter what vocation you are called to, you are called to love.  Saint Therese of Lisieux once exclaimed, "My vocation is love!" And typical Saint Therese, she's right.  If you're called to marriage, you get to reflect the love of Christ between you and your spouse.  If you're called to the vocation of religious life, you reflect the love of Christ between you and Him directly.  If you're called to a life of consecrated singleness, you get to reflect love between Christ and others.  We're all called to love..but not the heart-breaking love that Selena pours her heart over.  

Saint Pope John Paul II wrote, "Only a chaste man and a chaste woman are capable of true love."  How true - chastity is not something that hinders us from loving freely, but  actually opens the doors for true love to take over.  It's a matter of perception.  Chastity can be viewed as rules that bind us or opportunities to grow closer to Christ and to others.

So if you identify with Selena and are sick of that same old love, try Christ's new love on for a change.  You won't be disappointed.