GOLDEN

I should have known when my wedding proposal did not go anything close to what I had planned.  A year later I had my second chance to learn when our plan for call day fizzled.  It may be that we did learn – finally – five years into our marriage as we made plans to go to the seminary.
 
The BOTTOM LINE is that life is GOLDEN with God in Christ on our side.
 
The proposal plan was simple.  On Friday we would drive from college (Concordia, River Forest) in Chicago to visit friends at Concordia Ann Arbor.  Saturday morning we would drive to Monica’s parents’ house.  I would excuse myself, drive into Saginaw, and purchase the engagement ring at the jewelry store owned by a relative.  I would then propose Saturday evening (I had called  for permission the week prior), celebrate with both sets of parents, and then drive back to Chicago Sunday afternoon.
 
Come Saturday morning, Monica wanted more time with her friends, so I hitch-hiked home, borrowed my parents’ pickup truck, and did my shopping.  When Monica finally showed up with my car, she arrived with a “plus one” who was then with us the entire weekend until we dropped her back at Concordia Ann Arbor Sunday afternoon.  It was after 6:00 p.m. when we finally reached River Forrest, Illinois, and the ring was still burning a hole in my pocket.  Monica had a big test the next day that she had not studied for, however, after much pestering, I finally convinced her to go out for a quick bite to eat.  The grill was already closed at all of our favorite watering holes but we finally found a place to go.  Midway through our meal I dropped to a knee and popped the question.  Monica’s immediate response?  She laughed … and eventually said, “yes.”

When she returned to her dorm (she was the Resident Director for her floor) someone noticed a different kind of smile on her face.  A crowd gathered around her and then someone noticed the ring!  The spontaneous celebration that exploded eliminated the possibility of any test preparations for Monica.
 
The following morning as Monica shuffled into class, totally unprepared for the test, she noticed that a proxy stood in front of the room.  The proxy announced that the professor was ill, and that the test was being postponed.  A scream of joy from the back row filled the room.  As the class was leaving, a friend informed all who could hear of the events of the previous night.
 
“Give thanks to the God of heaven.  His love endures forever.” (Psalm 136.26)
 
In our interviews leading to placement by the church for our first teaching assignment, we had two requests: 1) a small town in the Midwest, and 2) that Monica be placed first, then me.  On placement day, Monica was given a position to teach first and second grades in Sterling eights (a small town in the Midwest?) and I was left weth no position.  ity was not until 6-8 weeks later (and two weeks prior to our wedding) that I was granted an interview with a church with no school.  SA month later I was
Heights (a small town in the Midwest?) and I was left with no position. It was not until 6-8 weeks later (and two weeks prior to our wedding) that I was granted an interview with a church that had no school.  A month later (two weeks after our wedding) I was installed at Charity Lutheran Church, Detroit (small town?) as Director of Christian Education, a position for which I had not been trained.  However, this turned out to be a truly GOLDEN moment.
 
Sometime in our fourth year of marriage we figured God’s plan for me was to be a pastor.  We made plans to enter Concordia Seminary St. Louis in a two-year program.  Monica would teach to pay for the way and I would go to school full time.  Then Monica got pregnant and Matthew was born five months before the move – so much for Monica teaching!  Then the seminary shortened my requirements to 13 months (plus one vicarage/intern year) and Charity offered to fund us for the 13 months if we would return to be their vicar/intern – and then pastor when my beloved mentor retired.  All was settled until we realized in early March (classes would start immediately after Memorial Day) that a) the seminary had no housing for us and b) we had no one to live in our Detroit house while/if we moved. Then, on May 14, God stepped in providing us with a great apartment on campus and renters for our home who remain great friends to this day.
 
“Give thanks to the God of heaven.  His love endures forever.” (Psalm 136.26)
 
Tomorrow Monica and I celebrate ourGOLDEN wedding anniversary – 50 years (or 57 if you include our dating years – or more than 60 if you go back to when we first met) of learning how to love.  Monica is a better lover than I  (as she regularly reminds me with her nightly saying that she loves me most – more than toast).  Most importantly, through it all we have learned that God’s plans are better than ours and we “Give thanks to the God of heaven for his love endures forever.”
 
So, while Psalm 136 refers to creation and God’s deliverance of ancient Israel from their foes, I am writing additional verses that say, “Give thanks to the God of heaven.  His love endures forever.  Who created Monica and gave her to me.  His love endures forever.  Who has given us fifty years of marriage.  His love endures forever.  Who has made our life to be GOLDEN.  His love endures forever.
 
Yes, life in Christ truly is GOLDEN and will become even more so in eternity.