Some years ago, my friend Sonja told me of an experience she and one of her friends once had with a Ouija board.  From what I recall, the experience went like this:

They played around with it one night and got freaked out. (Duh...ever seen The Exorcist?  But, I digress...)  That night, they threw it in the trash can and thought nothing of it.  Until the next day...(cue dramatic music)

It was not in the trash can the next morning.  Instead, it was on the kitchen table.  Sonja's friend tried tearing it up.  It was back the next day.  It was even set on fire and burned to ashes.  As the story goes, it was back again the next morning, fully intact without so much as a burn mark.

Now, I'm not here to debate the truth of this story.  Instead, I just wanted to say that the same thing can sometimes happen with the way we feel toward someone.  No matter how much we want the feelings to die, no matter what we try in an effort to rid ourselves of them, they linger without any sign of letting up. For one reason or another, we must bear them and suffer their continued presence.

It's like having a guest over for a while because his company is welcomed and very enjoyable.  You have fun for a while, but he eventually becomes undesirable.  Maybe there's a difference of opinion that you just can't bear after a while.  Maybe he insults your cooking (or selection of ramen noodle flavors if you're a college student).

And, so you begin to drop hints that it's time for him to go.  Hints like "I think I'm going to turn in for the night in about a half hour," or "well, I've had fun tonight, but I need to study for a while," or "I mean, really...if you don't leave, I'm calling the cops."  Yet, try as you may, there he sits, drinking your soda and getting his cheet-o stained fingers on your remote.  He's clearly very comfortable and not going anywhere.

And so it can be sometimes with romantic attraction.  What was once a welcomed thing becomes unwanted.  Not only unwanted by the object of your affection, but unwanted by even yourself.

I'm just glad that I know someone who knows exactly what I'm going through and that he's there with prayer, support, trust, encouragement, and even the occasional "Yeah, I know exactly what you mean!  It's awful...I couldn't figure it out, either." I don't know how I'd stay sane if I didn't.