Went for my usual walk along the sanctuary path, and heard beautiful music… as I made my way, I saw a small wedding ceremony taking place. It reminded me of the beauty and joy in a wedding ceremony. In fact, when I got married in 1990, Modern Bride magazine coined it “The Year of the Stable Marriage”. Of course I beamed with the knowledge that I was headed for “stability” in my marriage, but it turns out that they were referring to the other kind of stable. You know, the stable full of animals, noises, smells and piles of manure. No wonder they call it “Getting Hitched”.
The stable is a reflection of life really, and when it comes to the other “stable” referring to “stability”, we each have opportunity to daily move through and choose that path. Without stability we can stumble and tumble along the way. It is notable that the God of the universe chose to enter this world He created within a humble stable. He came to redeem His Bride (The Church). The wedding ceremony and celebration is a small representation of the celebration that will occur when Jesus returns to bring His Bride Home.
I have been divorced for more than 20 years, and I don’t reveal that with any sense of pride or bitterness. Recently, I broke the seal on the box that held my wedding dress. There was an event I intended to donate it to, however I missed the deadline and there it hangs high and looming in my closet. In fact just the other night, I got up to go to the bathroom, and almost had a heart attack as I saw the white dress hanging aloft in my path. As I recovered from my fright, I was reminded of the movie Beetlejuice. Of course, my place isn’t haunted, and neither am I. I regret that my marriage did not last and represent the covenant made before God, but I walk in the freedom of His forgiveness.
Of course I will eventually find the right place to donate the dress to. For a season I had been saving it for one of my beautiful nieces, and then I realized, if she walks into that very vital covenant path, she will want the dress of her choosing. Wedding dresses are very personal and symbolic, as is the wedding ceremony.
Look at what The Message says in Ephesians 5:25-28 “Husbands go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the church – a love marked by giving, not getting. Christ’s love makes the church whole His words evoke her beauty. Everything He does and says is designed to bring the best out of her, dressing her in dazzling white silk, radiant with holiness. And that is how husbands ought to love their wives. They’re really doing themselves a favor – since they’re already “one” in marriage.”
Just pondering these beautiful Words gives me a sense of Awe and Hope. I was surprised that as I walked across the boardwalk bridge, the newly married couple passed me and said “hello” and I was able to congratulate them and share in that precious moment of joy and promise.
I headed home with a sense of Hope and Stability, one day The Bridegroom (Jesus) will come for me, what a celebration that will be. What about you, are you in The Bridal Party????
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