15!
Fifteen years ago today, I walked into a church in Mississippi. The church was full of family and friends, and as I stood at the front, I anxiously anticipated Sarah’s entry and journey down the aisle. These fifteen years of marriage have been full of joy and wonderful experiences as well as support through many challenges. Wonderfully, we have also shared the experience of guiding two little ones through the early years of their lives. Finally, it has been a blessing to live most of our marriage at Holy Spirit as we have served here eight and a half years.
When I met with a young couple last night to prepare for their February wedding, we discussed the theology of marriage. Such a relationship as this is one of the most Trinitarian things we get to do in this life. In the Trinity, we have come to believe that there is one God and our one God is known as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Only in the perfect love of God can 1+1+1=1. Further, when we learn that we are created in the image of God, it is the pure relationality and love of God that is most essential to that image.
When two people enter into such a covenant, we ask God to dwell in that relationship and in doing so, through the grace of God, we three become one. Sarah + Josh + God = 1. We bless each other as well as offering grace when we make mistakes. God’s love is not limited to marriage as we all know the blessing of a really good friend and the joy of being a part of a church community like Holy Spirit. It is always God’s good desire for us to be fulfilled through being with others. On this fifteenth anniversary of our marriage, I can say that I have a deeper understanding of God love because of Sarah. I pray that all of our relationships can be an inspiration of that love in which we were created.
We love you and God loves you,