They say nobody's perfect, but it's really true this time

I was a little young for Mad About You when it was a prime time TV show. I remember it, but I didn't watch it because I thought Paul and Jamie were old. I suppose I didn't relate very well to thirty-something newlyweds living in Manhattan in the 90s when I was 13.

Awhile back I bought Beth season 1 of Mad About You, and happily also made my way through the box set. Quickflix set me up with season 2, and Beth recently bought and loaned me season 3. And now that the age gap has closed somewhat between the Buckmans and myself, I can say that I think Mad About You is an absolutely delightful show.

Paul and Jamie's love for one another is imperfect. They're imperfect individuals, and they maintain this imperfection as a couple. Further, their imperfections are not always complimentary - oftentimes they are conflict-inducing. But here's what I think is really lovely: no matter how deep their conflict is or how disappointed they become in one another, they aren't scared by it. They are secure in their commitment to one another, so conflict doesn't threaten them. They're not avoidant of one another's short-comings, and again I think this is because they're not motivated by fear to keep everything rosy.

Yeah, I know they're not real. But they could be. They could be any married couple who are working hard on their imperfect relationship - not out of fear of failure, but out of a loving commitment. And in fact, I do know these people in real life. As I have been thinking this over the past few weeks I've been reminded of the kind of romance that matters. The kind of romance that makes the world a better place for everyone, not just those 'in love' at any given moment. The kind of romance I want for myself. And the kind of romance I think mirrors Jesus' love for the church, which ultimately is the whole point.

Or am I taking a 90s sitcom with bad fashion too seriously?