the always lovely, very nice, and elegant Kim Kooiker (now Van Soolkenburg or something like that) with me back in the day. I was seriously interested in her and it broke me to leave GR and leave our future prospects, but I dedicated myself to God and to "Go" and be a Christian evangelist. It was one of the most difficult things I had to do, and still to this day sometimes wonder if I did the right thing as it led to many later difficulties and persecution in life, but I continue to dedicate my life to God. I have not renounced the future possibility of marriage, but not until it is clearly according to God's will. That's not to say Kim is not dedicated to God but I knew she would not likely be willing to leave west Michigan and be a missionary wife (although I never actually posed the question).
"...distinctive, sometimes picturesque characteristics or peculiarities of a place or period as represented in literature or drama, or as observed in reality...." www.dictionary.com