Everyone Belongs at a Wedding…or Some Thoughts on Heaven (Part I)
“Nonsense,” she said as she took another bite of salmon. “Everyone belongs at a wedding.”
The bride, seated to my right, said this to me last Saturday night. Over the weekend I went to see a friend get married. I told him at the rehearsal dinner that I was very excited to be there, but also felt like I didn’t belong. Although we met six years ago, we only kept in touch via phone and email, and didn’t have the deep bond or rich history that he and his wife-to-be had with most of the people there. I told him that at any moment I was expecting a tap on the shoulder, and someone looking like they were in the secret service would lean down and say very softly in my ear, “Sir, we know who you are, and we need to ask you to leave.”
I told this to his wife on Saturday night, and congenial as she is, she came back with the above line. I thought it was incredibly poetic and full of truth. She’s right. Everyone does belong at a wedding. If you’re on the invite list, if you somehow know the bride, the groom, or one of their families, then you belong. The degrees of friendship are myriad at a wedding, which is why such a rich tapestry of life is woven in that celebratory reception that follows the ceremony. A grade school teacher, a camp acquaintance, a former roommate, and a third cousin each have their perspective and their story to tell of their relationship to the lucky couple.
In Scripture, one analogy that is used to describe heaven is that of a wedding. Because weddings are so packed with hope and joy, it makes sense that the Biblical writer(s) would use the description in order to convey the hope and joy they believed came with an eternity with God. And I believe, that in heaven, everyone belongs.
Before this comment is taken as a pronouncement on universalism, let us remember a few things. Our God tends to surprise. Personally, I am continually amazed at how God works, where God can be found, and how God finds us. While we think we have a monopoly on God, a lot of us will be surprised at who is in heaven with us. I don’t know much about heaven (I’ve never been), but I believe it’s a big place, and somewhere in all those nooks and crannies is room for everyone who belongs there.
I’ve finally read a book by Brian McLaren. I’ve actually read the first two of the trilogy and am wrapping up the third, in which Dan Poole is researching the history of hell in hopes that he and his daughter can come to some definitive understanding about the concept. As I continue to grow and follow Jesus, I only become more convinced at how little we can know about God, God’s ways, and God’s eternity. While we take words and phrases from ancient texts and make concrete and eternal proclamations with them, we think we’ve got it all figured out. We think we know who belongs and who doesn’t. But end the end, the long lost friend will be seated next to the bride as they both munch on salmon and talk about life.
The bride, seated to my right, said this to me last Saturday night. Over the weekend I went to see a friend get married. I told him at the rehearsal dinner that I was very excited to be there, but also felt like I didn’t belong. Although we met six years ago, we only kept in touch via phone and email, and didn’t have the deep bond or rich history that he and his wife-to-be had with most of the people there. I told him that at any moment I was expecting a tap on the shoulder, and someone looking like they were in the secret service would lean down and say very softly in my ear, “Sir, we know who you are, and we need to ask you to leave.”
I told this to his wife on Saturday night, and congenial as she is, she came back with the above line. I thought it was incredibly poetic and full of truth. She’s right. Everyone does belong at a wedding. If you’re on the invite list, if you somehow know the bride, the groom, or one of their families, then you belong. The degrees of friendship are myriad at a wedding, which is why such a rich tapestry of life is woven in that celebratory reception that follows the ceremony. A grade school teacher, a camp acquaintance, a former roommate, and a third cousin each have their perspective and their story to tell of their relationship to the lucky couple.
In Scripture, one analogy that is used to describe heaven is that of a wedding. Because weddings are so packed with hope and joy, it makes sense that the Biblical writer(s) would use the description in order to convey the hope and joy they believed came with an eternity with God. And I believe, that in heaven, everyone belongs.
Before this comment is taken as a pronouncement on universalism, let us remember a few things. Our God tends to surprise. Personally, I am continually amazed at how God works, where God can be found, and how God finds us. While we think we have a monopoly on God, a lot of us will be surprised at who is in heaven with us. I don’t know much about heaven (I’ve never been), but I believe it’s a big place, and somewhere in all those nooks and crannies is room for everyone who belongs there.
I’ve finally read a book by Brian McLaren. I’ve actually read the first two of the trilogy and am wrapping up the third, in which Dan Poole is researching the history of hell in hopes that he and his daughter can come to some definitive understanding about the concept. As I continue to grow and follow Jesus, I only become more convinced at how little we can know about God, God’s ways, and God’s eternity. While we take words and phrases from ancient texts and make concrete and eternal proclamations with them, we think we’ve got it all figured out. We think we know who belongs and who doesn’t. But end the end, the long lost friend will be seated next to the bride as they both munch on salmon and talk about life.
|
Comments (0)
Post a Comment