“I Didn’t Know I Was Looking for Love” by Everything But the Girl (1993)

The Lord Is My Chef Sunday Music by Fr. Nick F. Lalog II, 14 January 2024

We were at the historic San Agustin Church in Intramuros last Friday to officiate the wedding of my godson whose parents were childhood friends in Bocaue, Bulacan. 

It was one of the loveliest weddings I have officiated, something like from a fairy tale. The groom was a very eligible bachelor, the bride was a single mom of a five year-old love child. They met six years ago in their former office. He was a very persistent lover, perhaps feeling like a knight in the shining armor while she was adamantly cold who had vowed never to love and trust men again.

But love prevailed. After two years of living together and finally having a son of their own, they came to me and asked to officiate their wedding. 

I clarified everything with my godson that what he was going into is not a movie nor a telenovella but he was so cool, perfectly sane, most of all, man enough to stand by his decision, by his bride and her daughter, and their one year old son. She was the most amazing woman I have met recently – beauty and brains with a big heart willing to love again. 

It was really more of a case of the priest being swept off his feet by the two lovers that I had to tell them, “ako man hindi makapaniwala sa kapangyarihan ng pagmamahal na tunay” (see https://lordmychef.com/2024/01/12/pagkukuwento-di-pagkukuwenta-ang-pag-aasawa/).

Sorry for the long introduction to our music this Sunday we find so related not only with our wedding last Friday but with our gospel today.

Released in 1993 as a track on their extended play (EP) of the same title by the husband and wife team Ben Watt and Tracey Thorn who called themselves as Everything But The Girl (EBTG), I Didn’t Know I Was Looking for Love says all about this mystery of love, mystery of life.

And that is how true love really comes to us, in the most simple and ordinary circumstances of our lives.

I was alone thinking I was just fine
I wasn’t looking for anyone to be mine
I thought love was just a fabrication
A train that wouldn’t stop at my station
Home, alone, that was my consignment
Solitary confinement
So when we met I was skirting around you
I didn’t know I was looking for love
Until I found you

I didn’t know I was looking for love
Until I found you, honey
I didn’t know I was looking for love
Until I found you, baby
Didn’t know I was looking for love
Didn’t know I was looking for love

Cause there you stood and I would
Oh I wonder could I say how I felt
And not be misunderstood
A thousand stars came into my system
I never knew how much I had missed them
Slap on the map of my heart you landed
I was coy but you made me candid
And now the planets circle around you
I didn’t know I was looking for love
Until I found you

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In this Sunday’s gospel, we find Jesus passing by whom John the Baptist identified as “the Lamb of God”. Upon hearing him speak, his two disciples, Andrew and another companion followed Jesus who asked them “What are you looking for?” Andrew and companion replied with a question, “where do you stay, Rabbi (Teacher)?” That was when Jesus told them to “come and see” and there was no leaving the Lord since then with Andrew bringing his elder brother Simon Peter to Jesus to become his first apostles.

Many times, Jesus is passing by, calling us, inviting us with the same question, “what are you looking for?”

Most of the time, we hardly know what we are really looking for not until we just follow our instincts and feelings, realizing from deep inside our hearts of our need for love and affection, for others, and most especially for God.

It was the same experience of Everything But The Girl in their classic I Didn’t Know I Was Looking for Love. All we need is an open heart for others, for God. Not to forget of the need to listen too to our very selves, to our deepest longings and desires found in our heart where God dwells and invites us to open up to him (https://lordmychef.com/2024/01/13/when-the-question-is-also-the-answer/).

Have a blessed and lovely week ahead everyone!