Seeking God on Monday
Forty-two years ago tonight, 8:30 pm or so , Gayle and I got hitched. The service couldn’t start until her uncles finished milking the cows. We got married in her home town of diminutive Dassel, MN, the chick (poultry not human) center of the midwest. Gayle had that pure, radiant glow of Donna Reed in It’s a Wonderful Life and emanated an air of cool, calm, and confidence. In a word, she was “breathtaking”. I, on the other hand, was a mess! My forehead was displaying a lovely goose egg that was inflicted when I mistook the side glass panel of the sanctuary entrance as an open door. My nerves were frayed by the fact that my best man did not show up for the pre-wedding pictures so we had to have another college classmate of comparable stature stand in for him. My head felt like it was in a vice as my best man finally showed up and finished putting on his tux in the baptistry changing room seconds before the processional began. My stomach was moaning like a moose in heat as I was sure that I was going to puke on the pastor when he asked me, “do you take Gayle to be your lawful wedded wife”.
Our first night together was in another thriving MN metropolis, New Ulm, home of the Wanda Gag Home, and one motel. I had overlooked booking a room and fortunately, got the last vacant room as the clock ticked toward midnight. Unfortunately, the room was on the lower level next to the banquet room where Schell’s brewery was having a beerfest. Sorta difficult to be romantic when you’re listening to “Hey Ole, how about another round!”
Those unexpected events of June 14, 1968 were just a prelude for many more unexpected events that have characterized our journey of joy together. What’s this got to do with seeking God, you may ask? We believe that God is more concerned about how we go through life’s circumstances than He is about the circumstances themselves. Although it has taken a number of years to fully understand and apply this truth, Gayle and I are convinced that God’s desire is that our contentment in life be anchored to an ongoing pursuit of intimacy with Him no matter what is or isn’t taking place in our life. It’s in those unexpected moments of life that we have the opportunity to experience God’s strength to become our strength; His wisdom to become our wisdom; His vision to become our vision and at times, His sense of humor to become our sense of humor.
“I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
“I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13)
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverence.” (James 1:2, 3)