Saturday my nephew got married. The tiny bride looked like a fairy princess, her long auburn hair dotted with white blooms. The flower girl wore pink wings. The wedding was charming and whimsical, but it was so much more than that.
It was a worship service.
They wept for joy. They laughed for holy wonder. And after the Word was opened, prayers lifted before the throne, the washing of feet, partaking of the bread and wine, declaring of vows, and giving of rings, they kissed.
And then they sang.
A Healing Song
My life is worthless to me, my life is worthless to me
Compared to knowing You, my Lord, my life is worthless to me
And every faithful work that I’ve done, every righteous act that I’ve done
Compared to knowing You, my Lord, each one is worthless to me
What can I gain if I set my eyes on beautiful things?
My treasure is You and I know You’re worthy
My hands are worthless to me, I could build a tower to get to you Lord
It would not do, it would not do, You do not want me to work for You
You want my love, You want my love
My life is worthless to me, my life is worthless to me
Compared to knowing You, my Lord, we’ve felt Your touch and we’re overjoyed
Selling everything to buy this field, Lord to know Your love is to be healed
I know You’re worthy
I know You’re worthy
I know You’re worthy
Lord to know Your love is to be healed, yeah to know Your love is to be healed
My life is worthless to me, my life is worthless to me
Compared to knowing You, my Lord, my life is worthless to me
They sang, and we sang with them, a congregation of witnesses, sharing the joy of the bride and groom, many of us also sharing their confession. And I think of how we live in this tension -- grateful for beauty, for human love, for the mysterious intimacy of marriage -- yet longing for our heart's true home. We are a bride in preparation, being made ready.
We sell everything to buy this field. But, what's this? In this place of surrender, our Bridegroom appears, all love, all redemption, all grace. He meets us in this field, and takes us into His arms. And we, who have no worthiness of our own, find it in our Beloved.
Our bridegroom meets us in this field,
sweeps us into His strong arms,
and in that instant, all tears are gone,
all sorrow forgotten,
all brokenness healed.
He meets us in this field,
and we dance.
* * *
Jeanne Damoff wishes you could hear the music to A Healing Song. It was written by the groom's brother, Nathan Miller, his fiancée, Meghan Ridge, and Elise Petrosky. They are gifted, and they are a gift.
In the midst of all this chaos we call recession, political gridlock, horrible crimes, nastiness and ugliness, there is this picture of God's beauty, of all the wonder He wants for us.
Beautiful, Jeanne.
Posted by: Glynn | August 04, 2011 at 05:33 AM
Oh my goodness, Jeanne. Goosebumps. Beautiful words, beautiful pictures. The tension and longing is there, always. Thanks for expressing it so beautifully.
Posted by: katdish | August 04, 2011 at 06:16 AM
Such sweet, precious beauty Jeanne. What a picture of that glorious meeting. Thank you for sharing this beautiful moment in time.
Posted by: Linda | August 04, 2011 at 08:04 AM
So, so, very beautiful. I could tell from the photos you posted that it was a worship service. What a beautiful picture you have painted here, Jeanne. Thank you.
Posted by: Patricia (Pollywog Creek) | August 04, 2011 at 08:05 AM
Superb!
Posted by: Christopher | August 04, 2011 at 11:07 AM
That's wonderful, Auntie. Thanks so much for writing this.
P.S. When we wrote the Healing Song, I found myself suddenly unsure of who was selling the field, us or Christ. We worded the song to work either way, but I usually sing it with the meaning that you ascribed, that Christ is the treasure and that we trade our lives for Him. Love you!
Posted by: Nathan Miller | August 04, 2011 at 09:20 PM
Thanks so much for these lovely comments, friends!
Nathan, I never thought about that parable from the opposite perspective before, but I love the idea of Christ selling all to purchase us, His bride! Greater love has no man than this. So amazing.
Either way, He meets us in this field, and we dance. What a wonder. xo
Posted by: Jeanne Damoff | August 05, 2011 at 08:58 AM
Absolutely breathtakingly beautiful!!!
Posted by: Susan | August 16, 2011 at 06:13 PM