Every marriage crosses another boundary of genealogy. Disparate histories are brought together in such a way that the other is presented for appreciation and praise, not contempt and rejection. Every marriage is proof that the other is not the enemy, not the rival, not the threat, but the friend, the ally and, at best, the lover.

All marriages are ventured into with this possibility and expectation, but they do not all confirm it. Marriages fail. Partners become rivals, jealous and threatened, rejection and rejected. Betrayals occur. Still, the most significant recurring act of love that takes place in society is marriage.

The two most difficult things to get straight in life are love and God. More often than not, the mess people make of their lives and their marriages can be traced to failure or stupidity or meanness in one of these areas.

The basic and biblical Christian conviction is that the two subjects are intricately related to life and marriage. If we want to deal with God the right way, we have to learn to love the right way. If we want to love the right way, we have to deal with God the right way. God and love can’t be separated.

Recorded at Mosaic Arlington.
mosaicarlington.org