peace . love . joy

I remember growing up, one of my favourite cartoon films was Disney's "101 Dalmations" (1961) (and before any of you ask, no, I am not a flower child. I wasn't even conceived in then!). The opening was, I felt, one of the most enjoyable scenes:

Pongo was looking out the window, searching for a mate for his "pet", Roger. And he as he watched female pair after female pair stroll along, he supplied a running comedic commentary.

Funny, isn't it, to see pets, especially dogs, looking and even acting like their owners? But it gets even more interesting to realise that this pattern actually carries over from the happy watercolor drawing boards of the Walt Disney studios to gritty real life. Sunglasses flaunted proudly by a couple strolling along the sidewalk, the master and his English Bulldog, beautifully and painstakingly combed blonde tresses adorn the heads of two lovely ladies, the mistress and her Afghan Hound...

But before this transformation of the pet (since we like to think the owners have the upper-hand) can take place, there must first be a purchasing of the pet by the owner. After the purchase, or perhaps with the purchase comes a promise of a good relationship, a good life together. The purchase is made with an idea that the pet will make the owner happy, and the owner likewise the pet.

It's somewhat of a shadow of what a real marriage is:
Vows of commitment toward each other
Promises of constant companionship with one another
...
And it usually starts off with wanting to be happy together, thinking each would make, and strive to bring the other happiness, or the chinese 幸福.

But what if marriage, to a man or a woman, or indeed even to God, is more than just to bring each other happiness?
Happiness, no doubt, is one of the goals of marriage, one of the ideal aims, but what if it is not the por ultimo?

Returning to the dog and the master, dogs, in fact practically all breeds of dogs, have the ability to be trained and the capability of undying loyalty... And the potential to resemble the master.

Now, I'm not suggesting that we're dogs. Instead, perhaps
the big purpose of marriage is for us to resemble our Master, our God.

The call to Christ-likeness is not found in one conclusive be-all-and-end-all verse, or even passage for that matter. No, its significant and varied meaning bearing a network of vast implications is found across the Bible, specifically the New Testament.

"By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked."
~ 1 John 2:5b-6

The more we spend time with Him, the more we fear Him (becoming more awestruck), the more we know Him (becoming more intimate), the more we yearn to resemble Him.

We, at the altar, standing across from our Groom, our Lord, give the "go" to change for the better, to change to become like Him.
We, in the days to come, living with our God, effectuate our commitment to persevere in becoming like Him.

But this change occurs not on our strength. We endorse and allow it to happen, to continue, but it is God, in the Spirit, who is hard at work:

"Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgement, because the ruler of this world is judged.
I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you."
~ John 16:7-15

"But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord."
~ 2 Corinthians 3:18

The Spirit works to mould us through people, through circumstances, through spiritual disciplines. It moulds us to become like Christ in service, in love, in patient endurance, in mission.

We are not dogs who merely resemble our Master, looking and sounding like Him, but that is all. No, we are created to possess a far greater capacity for intellect, our calling more complex:
to reflect Christ.
To learn to think as He thinks, to feel as He feels, and the freedom to choose to act as He acts.

Our Groom's gift to us is happiness.
Happiness through holiness.

What is your gift to Him?