I'm Back, with Bling!

Well, it's not really "bling" in the traditional sense of the word (can there be a traditional sense of a made-up slang word?), but it is more jewellery than I usually wear. Yes, gentle readers, I've got a wedding ring on.

Now, some of you sharp cookies (boy, that's a bad image... imagine eating a sharp cookie! So delicious, but so pointy! You'd have to really want it) will therefore clue in to my changed marital status. Yep, I'm married!

It happened on June 13, 2009. Laurel and I stood at the front of our church and, in front of a building full of family and friends - but more importantly, in front of God - made a covenant to be man and wife. It was thrilling and exhilarating and terrifying to do this, but there is no doubt about it; best decision I've ever made, second only to my decision to follow Christ.

It was humbling to see so many people there to support us, and to witness this covenant, and to promise to hold us accountable to a Godly standard of marriage. I take that seriously, even when I'm a guest and not a participant, and so I hope they will take it seriously too.

We left for our honeymoon the next day, and spent 7 days in Florida that were relaxing, exciting, tiring, and refreshing. It was beautiful there, and the time we spent together was beautiful in its own right. We did theme parks (a shared pleasure of ours!), restaurants, the beach (I hate beaches, but I would go anywhere with her, if she asked... and the beach was very nice too), shopping, etc. We spent time getting to know each other again as the stress from planning a wedding unravelled and took with it short tempers, constant details, and conversation monopolising that became a part of our relationship in the last couple of months before our wedding. It was weird to share a bed with a person (I occasionally snore, and she's a light sleeper - she tapped me on the face to wake me up one night at 3am... what a lovely way to wake up!) but we'll get the hang of that.

All in all, I'm enjoying being married. The monumental weight of the decision isn't lost on me in the haze of lovey-dovey feelings; there are times when I am stunned I am married, but that's how it should be. If you get married and don't think to yourself at times, "What the crap did I just do? I'm married to her for life!" then I think you might have made that decision too rashly. The point is, though, that those thoughts fade away, and I'm reminded of just what this all means: I am joined, not saddled; partnered, not stuck; one flesh, not leashed. It is an opportunity to practice grace, and to have it extended to me. It is a place to learn to love without reservation, and be loved. It's a relationship with a mystery attached (according to the apostle Paul), that begs to be explored. Who wouldn't want that?

God's plan of marriage is perfect. Why should that surprise anyone?