Shades of White

In 9 days I will pitter patter down that white marble aisle in my white dress. There will be white sashes and white high-collared shirts. White tipped-nails and the flash of white teeth beneath a smile. The bright white of our eyeballs betraying our excitement.

Since I was a little girl, pattering through life, I’ve been stowing away pieces of marriage advice. And perhaps the wisest words came from the journal of an old bishop. His creamy white pages and jet ink now faded to a softer shade of brown. His tattered pages revealing the profundity of such words enduring with time.

"How beautiful, then, the marriage of two Christians, two who are one in hope, one in desire, one in the way of life they follow, one in the religion they practice. They are as brother and sister, both servants of the same Master. Nothing divides them, either in flesh or in spirit. They are, in very truth, two in one flesh; and where there is but one flesh there is also but one spirit. They pray together, they worship together, they fast together; instructing one another, encouraging one another, strengthening one another. Side by side they visit God's church and partake of God's Banquet; side by side they face difficulties and persecution, share their  consolations. They have no secrets from one another; they never shun each other's company; they never bring sorrow to each other's hearts."

                —Turtullian of Carthage (c.160 – c.220)

There’s something pristine about your wedding day. Like freshly fallen snow, early in the morning, on an unplowed pathway. Simple, undisturbed, vanilla. But over time it becomes tinted with footprints, like that old paper, richer and wiser for the use.

I have a hunch marriage is the same. The pale white deepens into richer hues. So as I fasten my pearls and inhale the scent from my ivory orchids, I’m anticipating the journey Turtullian described. Better and beautiful for wear.

So as we set out, I look forward to the moments waiting to be inscribed. Thank you, Michael, for sharing this life with me. I believe our Master is writing a richly blended story.