It’s hard to imagine contentedness before it finds you.
Find a good spouse, you find a good life; and even more: the favor of God! — Proverbs 18:22 (The Message)
Perhaps I’m just reacting to post-wedded bliss. Perhaps this is early domestication that’s suiting me well. It’s hard to say, since I’m caught up in the moment. Think Schrödinger’s cat 1The theory of quantum mechanics says that you can’t know if the cat in the box dies of poison unless you open the box, thereby disturbing the experiment. In practical terms, Schrödinger’s cat represents a loss of objectivity when making observations. Wikipedia article on the subject..
As most of you know, I got married in August… the day before my birthday. By far, this was the best birthday yet, and easily the best wedding I’ve been too! You all made it so wonderful.
Orthodox Marriage is seen as an act of God in which he joins two believers (a man and a woman) into one. 2from the article “Eastern Orthodox Church” on Wikipedia
That Friday morning was cool and quiet. While the world bustled by outside those gorgeous church doors, Sarah and I exchanged vows of permanence and intentionality, of love and commitment. And all of you were there (either in the “real world” or virtually) to bear witness. The day was perfect.
In the Orthodox tradition, examples of “mysteries” are holy Communion, baptism, and even marriage.
An Orthodox definition of mystery might be any action in which a person connects to God. 3Ibid
Most of these ideas have bled into Protestantism. In the case of the “mystery of marriage”, I like how the phrase has an actual religious heritage. It’s not just something we say, but has meaning, a root.
…marriage is also treated as a sacrament, and as an ordination, and (like all ordinations) like a martyrdom, as each spouse learns to die to himself or herself for the sake of the other. 4from the article “Christian views of marriage” on Wikipedia
What I couldn’t have imagined was how sacred the mundane can be. Simply relaxing at our kitchen table and reading the paper can be a deeply profound thing. Of course eating Sarah’s wonderful food is anything but mundane! That she spoils me so, I’m sure, contributes to my state of bliss. Ahh, what do I know about marriage? It’s humbling to know how far I have to go, but it’s fun to learn more each day.
Footnotes
- 1The theory of quantum mechanics says that you can’t know if the cat in the box dies of poison unless you open the box, thereby disturbing the experiment. In practical terms, Schrödinger’s cat represents a loss of objectivity when making observations. Wikipedia article on the subject.
- 2from the article “Eastern Orthodox Church” on Wikipedia
- 3Ibid
- 4from the article “Christian views of marriage” on Wikipedia
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