The Signature of God- found in a seeming imperfection

This was a small homily I gave at the wedding of Laura Hudson and Brendon Dasher. 

“Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.”
Psalms 127:1

 A little girl was touring some magnificent homes with her grandfather.  One was a beautiful sandstone with an intriguing design.  But she saw a bright red tile- seemingly out of place in the corner of the house. She thought it weird that such a seemingly perfect house would have such an imperfection. She asked her grandfather about it. He said it was no flaw, but the signature of the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright who put a red tile with his signature on many works he was pleased with. It was not an imperfection at all, but really part of the identity of the home.  

Laura and Brendon you are fearfully and wonderfully made. Today you are remade as the two of you become one. You may look at something in you or in the other and think it is a flaw, but in fact it is GOD’s signature- his thumbprint if you will. The crosses you face- wound you, shape you, but also identify you- as the nail and spear marks identified Jesus to Thomas and others.  You both have been through so much already, and you are vowing to go through more together. You have already persevered until this moment. Those events are God’s signature on your life. Do not expect some kind of artificial perfection from each other. But we are not in heaven yet- but we hopefully are growing in grace, in forgiveness, and looking forward to that perfect place where we are made perfect.  Yet today we are perfectly imperfect.  It is the imperfections that make you beautiful. God, the potter is reshaping you like clay in His hands- molding these imperfections in you and now shaping you together.  In some ways your cross is unique.  In some ways your cross is a way God identifies you.  

This is such a beautiful day- great temperature, great venue, no rain.  But you could look at this and say- if it only wasn't so windy then my hair wouldn't be blowing- or the pollen is a bit much.  You can always look at the black dot on the white board- or the red tile on the beautiful house- and think it is not perfect.  It isn't, but it is perfect for you.  This day is perfect for you- Perfectly imperfect- but it is your day.  This is the day that the Lord has made- let us rejoice and be glad in it.  

 Find peace in who you are and God’s call on your lives as individuals and now as two who have become one. Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it. He has brought you together in the right time and way. All of us will be looking to see how His beautiful builders’ signature will be made manifest in you. Today we are sending you off on your perfect imperfect journey with a prayer for grace and peace made evident in your love for each other and God’s sustaining love for you.

Lord, help me to see my crosses, my sufferings, even my failures- as something that has been given to me to shape me, mold me, and even make me who I am.  Give me the grace to bear my crosses well- and help my partner in life to also bear up under my crosses.  Lord, love is patient, kind, endures all things- make me an instrument of your love which is the greatest gift.  Lord, build the house of my marriage with your grace.  


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