Three years ago we toured a valley of giant sequoia trees, some of which had been standing for hundreds of years. One tree was over 1500 years old. I felt a kind of reverential awe for the majesty of these towering trees standing in silent vigil through the march of centuries.
But there was one tree in particular that captured my interest. It was, in fact, two trees merged together. They've been dubbed " The Faithful Couple" (as pictured above).
The audio guide told us that this tree is an exceptional rarity since what usually happens is that a larger, stronger tree takes over a smaller one or simply kills off the smaller tree by blocking its sunlight and sucking up its water supply.
But in the case of "Faithful Couple," two trees of equal strength pushed against each other. And as they pushed, they grew into one another. However, this was no hostile takeover. It wasn't one tree defeating and/or swallowing up the other.
Each tree retained its individual "treeness." After forming their solid union--a fortress-like base--they continued upwards, growing stronger and taller. Finally, after many years of almost indistinguishable oneness, the two trees separated--just ever so slightly. They are still one, but they are also beautifully distinct.
This tree gives me hope. It represents what I hope my marriage can be.
I say this because I know I'm not an easy person to live with. I'm strong-willed and defiant. I question everything. I'm extremely emotionally sensitive. And I have, um, baggage. I'm quite a catch, yes? Heh.
Well, I'm probably a terrifying catch to someone who is not equally strong, someone who enjoys a challenge.
This is why I adore my husband. He is a worthy opponent--but not in a hostile, takeover way. More in an "iron sharpens iron" kind of way. He is, quite simply, a man I can respect.
Yes, we have hurt each other many times over the years. We've had our huge ups and our huge downs. Our love is nothing if not imperfect. But through all these years--15 already!--he has always won my unflagging admiration.
I don't write about the love of my life very often. My words seem foolish and inadequate in the face of this monumental force that has shaped the topography of my life. Whenever I start to write about him, I sound like a wildly clanging cymbal. Nothing I can say speaks to the mystery and sense of reverential awe I feel toward this man.
I also don't write about him very often because it seems unpopular to say that I don't know myself apart from him. But it's true. I have grown into and out of him, lost myself and found myself with him. We are one, but we are also beautifully distinct.
He gives me my space. He's protective without being controlling. He's masculine without being macho. He is my most trusted advisor, confidant and dearest friend. And I am his.
Bonus? I also think he's super hot! I just love everything about him. The way he talks, the way he smells, the way he sings off-tune.
I even love that he never smiles for the camera! He just squints into it like a little old man. Eeek! The sexiness!
OK, me and my exclamation points will cease and desist now.
Happy Father's Day, beloved old man. Thank you for growing up and growing old with me. xo.
Halloween is NOT a pagan holiday---boycotts unnecessary!
Boycotting Halloween is like all popular now. When I was a kid, we were the only family in our entire neighborhood whose house went dark on Halloween. Because, you know, Halloween is a pagan, evil holiday and Christians shouldn't celebrate it 'cuz that's like Jews celebrating Hitler's birthday.
We didn't even pass out Gospel tracks like those Christians who see evangelistic outreach potential in every single holiday. And we certainly weren't going to throw a faux Halloween church party called a "Fall Festival." Because that was COMPROMISING WITH THE WORLD, yo.
So, we did the most Christian thing and cowered in our darkened home, praying we wouldn't get tricked. Or, you know, persecuted for righteousness' sake.
But now? Now it seems like all kinds of Christians--and not just fundamentalists--boycott Halloween.
The common reasoning seems to be that Halloween, an originally "pagan holiday," was "Christianized" by Catholics--yet another example, fundamentalists like to say, of Catholics corrupting true, pure Christian faith.
As an adult, I realize our boycott of Halloween had more to do with anti-Catholic sentiment than actual historical fact. Back then, I didn't even think Catholics were Christians.
Now that I know the Catholic Church isn't, in fact, leading millions of souls to Hell, imagine my surprise in discovering that "the origins of Halloween are, in fact, very Christian and rather American."
When I was a fundamentalist, I never even stopped to ask what the word Halloween meant.
Hallow=holy
e'en= contraction for the word 'evening'
Thus, Halloween means the holy evening before All Saints Day.
All of which to say, I would probably still be a fundamentalist if it weren't for the Internets.
Furthermore, so what if Christians "Christianize" things? That doesn't alloy our faith. Christianizing is what Christians do. I mean, if we're gonna get really technical--didn't Christians "Christianize" the Jewish faith?
And anyway, who decided that the goal of life is to avoid all things pagan? If that's the case, I guess we better come up with a different name for Thursday since it was named after the god Thor.
Of course, Halloween has become a largely secular holiday with widespread overtones of the occult. But that doesn't mean Halloween needs to be boycotted altogether. It just means that a lot of mainstream Christians have allowed pre-Christian superstition about the dead to takeover what should be a redemptive holiday.
It's possible to celebrate Halloween without glorifying the secular aspects of this particular holiday. The true celebration of Halloween should be about acknowledging our mortality--followed by remembering those who have gone before us on All Saints Day.
It's possible to celebrate and enjoy Halloween if you can, like I had to, overcome the reflexively anti-Catholic perspective that was ingrained into my Protestant DNA.
I really hope more Christians don't boycott Halloween this year because me and my five kiddos are going trick-or-treating and guess what? We don't want a Gospel pamphlet.
WE WANT CANDY!
Although if you pass out Mint Milanos instead? I'll totally say GOD BLESS YOU! :-D
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