Great Memories

Recently, I had the chance to visit the church where my wife and I got married. It is the church she grew up in and her family still attends. She was singing the offertory and we all went to worship together. I love that church. It has so many wonderful memories, most of which come from that special evening nearly 14 years ago. It's a simple sanctuary and it's a really good metaphor for marriage.

I've been in many different churches in my lifetime. Several have been my home church, but many more I saw during my days in college. As a member of the Millsaps Singers, we performed in dozens of churches throughout the Southeast and in several from other areas of the country. I've seen my share of sanctuaries... large and small... simple and ornate.

Covenant is a tall, A-frame sanctuary made almost entirely of long, copper-colored wood planks. It has a single pulpit, a beautifully simple alter table, and a tall ceiling that seems to reach to the sky. It has a backdrop wall that stands alone behind the alter and adds to the space of the room. It's so big but they don't feel the necessity to fill up the space with "stuff". When I worship there, it feels like a living, breathing thing. As time passes, the timbers that make up the walls/ceiling creak and moan with the wind and changes in temperature. The sounds are deep and penetrating. The choir loft is in the back of the sanctuary so it seems as though their sounds drop down from heaven. It's a wonderful experience.

Whenever I'm there, I think back to our wedding and reflect on our marriage. Life has not been easy over the last 14 years. ("Easy" is NEVER promised when it comes to marriage.) But it always does my heart and soul good to go back to Covenant. It reminds me of the beautiful (inside and out) woman I married. It also serves as a reminder that marriage is designed to be simple and honest, just like that church.

So many times, I have made my marriage much more complicated than God intended it to be. A place of worship needs nothing more than an alter on which to pray, a pulpit from which to read and preach the Gospel, and space for God's people to praise and worship Him. Everything else in a church is "stuff".

I've heaped on to my marriage so many needless expectations and limitations. They're just like the unnecessary statues, overly ornate woodwork, and all the other extras that we see in many churches today. I've piled this "stuff" onto to my wife and myself. Neither of us can live up to the unfair requirements.

Being in that place reminds me of the simple ideas of love, marriage, and commitment. On that evening back in 1995, I pledged to love, honor, and cherish. I promised God that I would care for my wife as I do myself. I vowed to care for her in the same way that Jesus cares for his people. And I committed myself to a beautiful person. I did so in the presence of God.

Those were simple promises. Yet, over time I've threatened them with doubt, harsh words, terrible behavior, simple-mindedness, and many other sinful acts. I've jeopardized my relationship with my wife by acting selfishly and pridefully. I've been quick to anger and slow to forgive. Unfortunately, I've neglected the vows I made.

However, every time I go back to Covenant, I am reminded of that wonderful day and our shared memories. It's almost like looking back at the photo album and feeling the excitement and joy all over again.

God created marriage as a way to honor Him. He gave me a partner to cherish and glorify. When I'm in that church, I find myself so inspired that I renew my commitments to my Lord and my wife. I renew my vow to be pleasing in His sight, both as a husband and a believer.