Christian Message Boards: O'Hara's Choice

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Posted by Cameron (Member # 1090) on :

I recently read a book entitled "O'Hara's Choice", by Leon Uris. Set in 1890's America, this young Marine officer and a wealthy heiress fall in love, and go through a heap of struggles and opposition from people. In the end they have a chance to be together, but they both decide that they can't live the type of life that the other wants and go their separate ways. My question is do you think they did the right thing by giving it up, or do you think the REALLY strong thing to do would have been to slog it out together and make it work? I personally think they took the easy way out. After all, did they REALLY love each other if they weren't willing to sacrifice their lifestyles to be together??

Posted by Caretaker (Member # 36) on :

I have enjoyed a couple of Uris' works, especially "Exodus",(which was made into a movie). He is writing about relationships from his particular perspective, and in much of his work, tragedy and love's separation plays a part.

As a Christian I define my personal perspective by God's Word. We are to cherish our loved ones as Christ loved the Church, unconditionally and sacrificially. A pure, true love can be readily defined from His Word:

1 Corinthians 13:
4: Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
5: Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
6: Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
7: Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
8: Charity never faileth

Insert the word "love" for charity.

Love places the best interests of others before ourselves, love sacrifices on behalf of others. When a married couple both thinks of the other first, the marriage can be the epitamy of love.

Uris is a superb author and writes tremendous historical fiction.

I would highly recommend Exodus, and The Haj.

May God bless.

Posted by Cameron (Member # 1090) on :

so, you're saying that you think they should have made a go of it?

I've read Exodus. I loved it.

Posted by Caretaker (Member # 36) on :

They might have sacrificed their own love for the greater good, I don't know, not having read the book. Sometimes heroic duty might be the higher calling, sometimes in history societal dictates and family loyalty might have been the greater need. For instance a princess who loves a commoner, but must marry another royal to unite the kingdoms. Was his call to duty a higher imperative than their happiness? Were the needs of her family a higher priority than her own fulfillment? Just conjecture into character.

If their desire to part was selfish, then their love was probably not real.