The Longest Kiss

1 Peter 5:14 “Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.”

What do you think the world record is for the longest kiss? I read some interesting online reports recently. At the Minnesota Renaissance Festival on 15 September 1990, An Alfred Wolfram from New Brighton, kissed 8001 people in 8 hours. That’s over sixteen people a minute! Bobbi Sherlock and Ray Blazina smooched for 130 hours and 2 minutes between May 1st -6th, 1978.

There are even rules for the “Longest Kiss” contests: The kiss has to be continuous and the lips have to be touching at all times. If the lips part, the couple is immediately disqualified. Contestants have to be over the age of consent in the country the event is being held. The couple has to be awake at all times. The contestants have to stand during the attempt and cannot be propped together by any aids, such as pillows, cushions or people. No rest breaks are allowed. Incontinence pads or adult diapers are not allowed. Couples cannot leave the venue during their attempt.

There are other kissing records. In 2005, James Belshaw, and his girlfriend Sophia Severin, 23 (both from London), kissed for 31 hours, 30 minutes and 30 seconds. There was a kissing marathon competition in Brazil that lasted 62 days, 8 hours, and 15 minutes, with a “kissing time” of 833:45 hours. But there is an even longer kiss. You’ll find about it at the end of this article.

An interesting newspaper article I read included a story of an elderly couple who, sadly, divorced after 40+ years of marriage. Some time after their divorce they both developed Alzheimer’s. Their daughter brought both parents into her home for care. Because of their condition the divorced parents forgot why they had any differences or that they even had arguments. In time they had even forgot they were married and the daughter overheard them say to each other that it was a shame they had not met when they were young – they could have had a wonderful life together. What a shame this couple did not exhibit some “selective amnesia” sooner in their relationship. Perhaps if they had showed more love during their marriage, they would have had their wonderful life together.

What a shame some of the trials that people suffer, even churches, occur because they cannot forget the hurts of the past and extend forgiveness to those they feel hurt them. Instead of “selective amnesia” they practice “selective remembrance”. Has anyone ever hurt you as much as you have hurt God with your sins” Our sins caused a separation between Father and Son that had never before occurred! Yet, God demonstrated His love toward us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). What a powerful demonstration of “selective amnesia”. He forgives our sins – even blotting them out. He releases us from the debt we owe, and He gives us a new history if we repent, all because of Christ’s righteousness. All this was made possible because of the genuine longest kiss, which can be seen at Calvary.

Psalm 85:9-10 “Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land. 10 Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.”

Pastor Michael Wise