Celebrando el aniversario de mis padres (Celebrating my parents' anniversary)

At times, I feel very uncomfortable appreciating a couple.

Because I know imperfections and deficiencies exist in even the most perfect of relationships.

How can I be quiet when one couple reaches 21 years of marriage?
How can I be silent when my parents fulfill 21 years of matrimony?

To me, I daresay it is a miracle.

For as I grow up, I become more aware of how difficult it is to maintain healthy relationships. The more I grow up, the more grateful I am to come from a still-united family.

Flesh alone could not reach such an accomplishment. Flesh alone could not have weathered the storms, sailed the disappointments, and voyaged through the great hardships which all married couples are struck with. My parents married each other young, immigrated to a new country which they knew not, and have committed their lives to Jesus.

And I know that though these elements cause issues, these same elements are the nutrients which fortify and nurture their relationship into its present-day state.

Today, I am confident that my parents will be able to shoulder coming conflict and change. Not because I trust their flesh or because they are perfect, but because I take confidence in the way the Spirit of Jesus has led them so far.

You know, I feel like there are plenty of everyday miracles around us which we miss out on because we do not acknowledge them as such.

The new born baby.

The affectionate girlfriend’s eyes.

The daily I-forgive-you’s.

These are miracles which in my mind have come to life by the provision of God.

Yes, I daresay, God Himself uses His life giving power to breathe these miracles into existence. Like the flowers of the fields and the birds of the air, there is much which is sustained and taken care of not by man, but by the generous and caring hands of the Father.

And though I feel uncomfortable with every relation’s imperfections, I do not feel uncomfortable in any way saying to my parents today,

Thank you for being the instruments of God’s blessings to me, to my brother, and to many others. Your relationship is not perfect. But as long as it is committed to Jesus, what you two do for me is beyond words and beyond understanding.
Like the mystery of life, I am wide eyed with wonder as I enjoy the fruits of this miracle: your long marriage. 

Felicitaciones, mama y papa. Los amo a los dos. Mantenganse fieles. :)

Rejoicing with those who rejoice

Today, is a special day.

Today, my friend, my brother, my son in Jesus, and a reason for my joy in this world graduates from high school.

Abner Campos, my heart goes out to you and I wish I could be there today.

May you walk in the footsteps of Jesus always, though your route differs from mine, though your personality differs from mine,

and your calling ends up looking much different than mine,

may we remain knit together as brothers. And may we both follow in the footsteps of the One we call Master,

because He is not afraid of unity in diversity.

I send you my congratulations. You have made many proud, and I know Jesus smiles down upon you today.

Continue to be faithful in today's work, continue to persevere, flee youthful lusts and stay true to the mark.

Jesus is the mark.

A warm hug and a round of applause to you and to your classmates. Your journey has but begun,

so celebrate this landmark and anticipate with joy where the Spirit will lead next.

*****

Ah, but it is not over. Today is a special day.

My friends, Jonathan Sanchez and Gisel Tejeda are wedded today.

I wish I could be there to watch you two commit yourselves to Jesus as a married couple. I am filled with delight as I anticipate the ways in which you will glorify the name of God as a team. I know He will lead you to unforeseen joys, guide you through unexpected rocky paths, and safely bring you two together into the age to come; both of you having blessed each other, blessed others, and blessed God Himself. I can only begin to imagine the joy in heaven today. May your household be patterned after the counsels of Sister White, may Child Guidance be lived out, and may the love of 1 Corinthians 13 emanate from within your household.

May God abide with you both.

Things will probably get rough at some point.

His strength will sustain, though.

Congratulations friends. I hope you cracked a real smile today, Jonathan. :)

Love's disappointment

Think of the wife at home. Making the place habitable and taking care of the household details while the husband is away. Think of the way she might delight in taking over these monotonous chores so her husband might be pleased by an ordered home. Perhaps she does this for five days straight. Setting meals and making conversation. Not minding his energies are a bit drained from his work. She seeks to stay involved in his life by  inquiring about his work and listening attentively. She does this delighted as she plays the role of suitable helpmate. And now think of what would happen if after the the five days the husband's day off came, and the wife couldn't help but get her hopes up. And what if the day came and went and nothing special happened? Would she not feel let down? He didn't even join in on the household duties.

Think of the father with the son. Think of the labor he takes on for the son who will never know the half of it. Providing a home and being the minuteman father the son needs. Watching the way he's developing, foreseeing what might be needed soon, trying to educate the child while giving him space to develop. Perhaps no one can quite put into words the constant taxation which comes when trying to be a parent. Yet he takes on the burden with joy for the sake of his son's eternal well-being.

And now think what would happen if after years of toil, the son turned his back on his father. Perhaps because of a petty complaint or a disagreement ending in dispute. As his son came of age the father got his hopes up. Would he not feel let down? Would there not be some inexplicable grief in the father? The son didn't even think of how indebted he was to his dad.

Think of the God holding the wheeling spheres, holding the cosmos and providing life to the worlds. How at the cross, He provided time and opportunity for salvation. By the blood from His brow, He began a new creation through resurrection. He never sleeps and His eye is ever on the earth trying to providentially guide, protect, teach, and save. Think of all the Great Controversy brings to His plate. Perhaps He does this for thousands of years as the Conflict continues.

And now think of wheat would happen if His children cast aside the time to worship Him. Or the pain and grief the missing faces will cause in the age to come. Would He not feel let down?

A celebration, why not?

On this Valentine’s day, a common time yet an uncommon emphasis.

We need more romance songs not ending in a scene of fornication.

I only wish I could help ghostwrite some.

Sadly, my music gene decided to never express itself.

Never, in the Hebrew sense, for I trust in the age to come, voices will ring and mine will be among them.

And on that day, perhaps my celebration of love will be fuller, not just limited to words.

You know, traveling with two married couples as part of Songs of Ascent, I thought I would be uncomfortable or awkward being the fifth wheel. However, this has not been the case. I watch cute idiosyncrasies of their romantic story, I watch the way they smile in pride, I watch the familiarity and peace, I watch and I rejoice. My heart is made glad, I am overwhelmed with excitement to see true love, the kind Corinthians 13 describes, in action.  And yes, perhaps it is unfortunate to have no one to share a meal with when we hit up a restaurant, but oh how fortunate it is to dwell in the sacredness of matrimony.

So many people rag on Valentine’s day. I see no honor in that.

It is an easy target, a large center with a soft underbelly.

May be we should seek to rejoice and celebrate love, to hold it up in awe and reverence.

Solomon wrote a song about it and God liked it enough to canonize it. Let us celebrate those who have done it right, those who are seeking to do it right, those whose marriages and romantic stories reflect the Bride and the oh-so-dashing Groom.

In a world full of affairs, adultery, incest, pedophilia, rape, and fornication, we need more  celebration of other-centered love.

Yes, it is just another common day, but why not seize it for an uncommon emphasis?