One

by - October 31, 2011

Fingerprints, DNA, snowflakes, personalities, and life experiences: no two are alike. Thus our infinite God has created infinite possibilities despite our finite minds. For that kind of math we use exponents, and maybe a statistician or two, and a graphing calculator with built-in algorithms. And any other help we can get for that matter. But for God it's easy.

Here's the theorem we husbands and wives are to prove: One man plus one woman equals one flesh for one lifetime.

That's a lot of ones that don't lead to a higher number. Like many of God's principles, this proposal flies in the face of simplistic, earthly knowledge. Marriage won't make it past a first grade math teacher, and we've always known one plus one equals two but it doesn't stop us from gambling a lifetime on fuzzy math. We turn our backs on simple addition for the lure of chemistry and the intrigue of melding into another, even if figuring out how to do this takes a lifetime.

Two becoming one involves more chemistry than what was present on the first date. It involves pressure, fissure, fission, friction, shedding, dying, living, and tears on the front steps together holding hands. It doesn't fit neatly in a test tube over a Bunson burner. It's the open-ended science experiment of chemistry in biology class with enough calculus and theology thrown in to baffle even Isaac Newton with his telescope and its prism that breaks white light into myriad colors. It goes beyond known physics, mathematics, astronomy, natural philosophy, alchemy, and theology, all of which Newton was expert in. For us it's hard; for God it's easy.

These thousands of years later, we're yet to fully discover and understand all that God flung into existence in a mere seven days. He said it was all good, and when He created man he said that was very good. And it wasn't even over yet because He created Eve out of Adam. A grand finale of all creation?

He made two from one, then asks the two to become one again.

Marriage is two distinct entities lessening to become a mere one, except they become more — somehow — instead of less. It cannot be explained by a math equation. So we wrestle with our inability to become less than the one we were in order to become one with another. It is abject, captivating oneness, a whole that's more than oneself, yet achieved only by the decomposition of that one self. It's white light that decomposes to refract the glory of the full spectrum from the heavenly side of Newton's prism.

One plus one equals one (plus God's beautiful, infinite possibilities).

For us this takes faith; for our infinite God it does not. Find comfort in that and trust Him.

For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully as I also have been fully known. (1 Corinthians 13:12)



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2 comments

  1. Thank you, Dawn, for sharing your heart these past 31 days! Thank you for giving good advice, teaching truths from God's Word and living it out in your own life!

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  2. I love what you say here, Dawn -- but I have to add that that is just the cutest darn picture ever!

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