Happiness is Only Real When Shared

On December 29^th, 2012, we were married in the Hawcreek Baptist Church, a small rural church outside of Hope, Indiana.  We will soon be celebrating a year of marriage and indeed it has been a year of great happiness filled with many changes, adjustments, and celebrations. As we prepare for the Christmas season and the celebration of our first year of marriage, we are reminded that “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” James 1:17.

God has given us a “good and perfect gift” of happiness with each other and we are extremely grateful. We hope that our lives have shown that miracles can happen when God is in charge. We wish you the happiest Christmas season surrounded by family and friends and thank you for being a part of our happiness. Happiness is only real when shared!

Below is the homily that Pastor Jeffrey Van Orden shared on our special day almost a year ago.

 “Happiness only real when shared.” These are the last words of Chris McCandless, the young man whose final journey was chronicled in John Krakauer’s book “Into the Wild.”

                                                                                                               

Before arriving at his profound conclusion, McCandless gave away all his possessions and set off on a solitary trek across the Alaskan wilderness – in search of happiness.  Evidently, he never found it.

But he did discover a truth that is expressed over and over again in the Biblical record:  Shared happiness is not only real, it is the state of being that God intended for us as men and women created in God’s image.

This special, shared happiness is best expressed in marriage.  And it can be life-changing.

Jesus’ first miracle, you may remember, took place at a wedding feast.  The wine had run out, and in order to help the host avoid what would have been a horrible embarrassment, Jesus – at his mother’s urging – turned jugs full of water into fine wine.

This familiar miracle is a story of transformation. Jesus took some old clay jars and rededicated them for a new purpose.  They became the container for something new and wonderful.

My prayer – our prayer – this day is for that kind of miracle to happen here at this wedding: that the traditions of our wedding celebration – the traditional vows and ceremonial acts we will perform - even the party that will follow –can be transformed to hold and celebrate the new marriage we witness today.

But even more than that, we pray that the two of you, and the relationship you have built together up to this point, can be transformed into something new and wonderful by what you do today and by the power of God’s Spirit, who we invite to be present with you, today and every day.  That you will experience the shared happiness that God has given us with this wonderful gift of marriage.

The story of water turned to wine at the Cana wedding is also the story of Jesus and of the God we know through him.  When Jesus took those clay jars and made them the vessels for something new he gave us a glimpse of God. Transforming something as ordinary as water into the abundant wine of the Kingdom of Heaven.

And so, our prayer this day is for a miracle to happen here: that among these friends and family gathered here today, the presence of the God of new life will be known to each of us.

David and Cindy, I hope this story comes true today.  I pray that you will become, together, what God intended you to be.

“Happiness only real when shared.” In the context of your marriage, this turns out to be a very hopeful statement indeed.

Merry Christmas,

David and Cindy

Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.

A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4:12