My oldest daughter and her husband, Tim, came to town, and on our last day together, we asked, “What is one way you see the beauty of the mystery of Christ in your marriage?” One of my favorite passages is Colossians 1:15-20—Christ as the image of the invisible God. One of the descriptions is that Christ reconciles all things. I am not sure what this means, but this image of ultimate reconciliation seems incredibly hopeful and beautiful. I see a beautiful marriage this way—together becoming one, reconciling the flaws and struggles through the gifts of the other’s strengths. Shann moves me to be more present, more attentive, less zoning and frittering time away with senselessness. I move Shann toward greater breadth of emotion, joy, sorrow, empathy and tenderness. My mom played a significant role in my dad’s reconciliation, bringing him through his episodic despair, leading him forward in his flights of imagination. My brought my mom into fullness of life and depth of personhood. 

This is the hope in marriage, friendship, church, healing presence, and mystery of Christ reconciling us to one another and God. 

The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.” – Colossians 1:15-20

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