Side by Side & Face to Face

One of the things I love the most about Jesus is that He is accessible. He is not far away, and His call to follow Him is possible for every single person. “Loving our neighbour as ourselves” (Mark 12:30) is simple, but it doesn’t mean that it is easy. And the definition of neighbour is radically altered by a God who doesn’t leave anyone out - enemies and friends - those farthest away and those closest to us, are all seen and considered by the Good Samaritan, Jesus.

And as we consider those outside of our doors, and across our streets, we also have the unique opportunity in this #stayathome time in history, to look beside us, to marriage: the union designed to reflect a glorious posture of intimate orientation towards, and a standing beside to step out.

Photography by Jessica Cluett

We experience this side by side as we work towards common goals, pursue dreams, & pay bills. As we parent, take care of our community, make purchases, & collaborate. As we serve in churches or neighborhoods, plan vacations & retirement. As we become a force for good that blesses out of our blessing.

We experience this face to face as we have conversations and arguments. As we confess hurts, seek comfort, speak life & make love. As we share fears, challenge motives, seek forgiveness & pray. As we hold on, breath courage, protect & uphold.

And now we need this union more than ever. It is a foundational expression of the church itself and the first fruits of how love-enduring & overcoming tastes. And yet under the test and tension of trial, our partner can easily become our enemy when we allow this sacred posture to shift. The best of us and the worst of us must live under the same roof, and that can make even the roomiest houses crowded. Pressure & time, after all, make both diamonds and dust. We might attend services online today but it is attending to the service of Christ in our homes, across the table & a hand hold away that gives us our family name. The mercy we show our neighbour might not first look like walking to the other side of the street, but walking to the other side of the living room. It might not first look like calling an old friend or family member across the globe, but calling the name of our beloved to come near. For there is no closer neighbour to love than the one beside us.

My husband and I have made the decision to build our house upon a rock that stands through every storm. The love that remains when the kingdoms of money, power, influence, morality & feel-good works fade away. The strong tower and shelter that will hold fast and hold onto us far after we have lost it all. Because even if we lose everything, we still have found everything we need in Jesus Christ. So what better time to get to know Him. And in turn, get to know the one He has joined you with.

May we grow closer together as the rest of the world distances.
May we run to one another’s touch as the rising loneliness of physical distance from the world continues.
May we get to know, and fall in love with one another all over again in the waters of turmoil that neither of us have experienced yet in our lifetime.
May this historic time of day in and day out produce a softness & resilience that our marriages have never seen.
May we become the kind of home for one another than feels like a front door opening every time we gently turn face to face for the sake of our souls.
May we become the kind of hope that feels like a city on a hill every time we powerfully turn shoulder to shoulder for the sake of the world.

“May the Lord make increase and abound in your love towards one another, and then to all.”(1 Thess 3:12)