In church yesterday, my pastor discussed discipleship as a death march. Reading from Mark, a disciple will be hoisting their own cross-beam onto their shoulders. They will be marching it out, processing to their death. And it is here that they enter into the abundance of eternal life (which, as the pastor put it, can also be experienced prior to death - family, friends, etc.).
Mr & future Mrs. Tension Treatises were used in an analogy to this death march. On Saturday, the future Mrs. Tension Treatises processes to her death as I wait to receive my own. It is a death to all else. We make a vow to forsake all others. We commit ourselves to each other.
And we get the abundance of a life of companionship, joy and stretching. We lose some aspects of life, some freedom to gain a much wider arena of freedom.
On Saturday, I will await my bride happily pronouncing my death. I choose to forsake all others and live a life committed to her.
So romantic as it is not - upon wishing me a happy marriage, wish me a fulfilling death. I know that on Saturday a tear will form, but a tear of joy. And will smile on the face of death.
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