The Marriage Road

This weekend I officiated the wedding of Ivis and Matthew back in a former church in Virigina. Ivis was one of my former youth. The young couple met on the side of a road when Ivis' brother had forgot to pick her up one day. I used this part of their story to draw some biblical parallels, which I've posted below.

Lots of very important things happen “on the side of the road.” In scriptures we find the Lord led Moses and the Israelites down a winding and long road to freedom. Our Lord Jesus tells of following “a narrow road” that leads to life. He also tells us of a Good Samaritan that lends a hand to someone injured by the roadside. Our Lord was praised with palm branches as he triumphantly rode the road to Jerusalem on the back of a donkey. And after our Lord’s Resurrection, one of Christ’s first appearances was walking down the Emmaus road with some disciples. And who can forget Paul, whose life was changed dramatically on the side of a road. When I asked Ivis how she met Matthew, she told me it was literally “on the side of the road.” While this sounds like a very unconventional place to meet the love of your life, I think it’s important to view the symbolism of a road in the context of a marriage. The imagery of a road implies a journey. Matthew and Ivis, your presence here today means that you acknowledge that your meeting on that roadside was not by chance, but by the divine intervention of God Almighty. You are willingly choosing to walk down life’s path as partners. Like the Israelites with Moses, there will be plenty of times where the journey may seem long, mundane, and frustrating. Like the Good Samaritan, there will be plenty of times where you must humble yourself and lean down to help the other when they are hurt or need a helping hand. Like the triumphant entry, there will be times, such as this moment today, where you are filled with insurmountable joy. Like Jesus’ presence on the Road to Emmaus, sometimes you just need to walk along side each other as quiet and trusting friends. And like Paul’s conversion, there will be events in your life that will completely turn your world upside down. In these times your support of each other will be very important.