Face to Face with Her Bridegroom

clipart from weddings.lovetoknow.com

Two brides, both in their twenties, waiting to see their bridegrooms, two continents apart with entirely different circumstances, both are finally face to face on the same day with their groom. One bride waits because she married a foreigner and is suddenly barred from entering the United States from Canada.  The other is the bride of Christ, waiting as cancer shuts down her earthly body, till her spirit can fly to the heavenly kingdom.

Families in both situations storm heaven’s gates, asking for a miracle.  Many tears are shed but both wait with hearts of acceptance, knowing things are beyond their control.  Both brides experience the emotional tearing of leaving family, yet know that greater things are ahead…..eventually!

Pledges of commitment were spoken in front of a joyous audience of family and friends, one at a wedding and the other at a baptism years ago.  A seal of that commitment for one was a ring, for the other the presence of the Holy Spirit within.  Both have experienced living in the waiting, yearning to be face to face.

Communication in the meantime has flowed freely.  Skype, texting, email and the telephone have enabled back and forth conversations.  Prayer and meditation, music and art have allowed the other bride to commune with her groom.  As great as these things may be, they are but shadows to the intimacy of now being fully known face to face.

Have these been wonderful days of waiting?  To paraphrase Ann Voscamp, A wonderful day is not a painless day, but can be wonderful if it is a meaningful day.  Meaningful days are simply faithful.....  prayerful.....   helpful....  merciful....   thankful..... Both brides had to look and listen for the whispers of God in the waiting.  Both had to look beyond their pain and struggles, thankful to not be alone and to be deeply loved.

Do we have to understand this long road towards meaningfulness?  Who can tell what new souls will be birthed in the days and years ahead?  All we can do is cling to the promises of God as more of our loved ones travel to “the other side”.

We have been told to keep asking with boldness, confident that our God is in control, though we see as through the fog murkily.  We are told to wait with expectancy for entrance to the rooms prepared specifically for us.  We continue in the waiting, trying to make sense of our emotions, yearning for acceptance.

All I can do today is rejoice with the bride who is now able to set up housekeeping and settle in with her beloved.  I can also rejoice through tears, for the joy and wholeness being experienced by Jenna.  She is now face to face with the Lover of her soul.