Anniversaries

Last week my husband and I celebrated 9 years of marriage.

Photo credit: Julisa Batelaan of JCV Photography

Now when I say "celebrated" what I mean is we both kinda forgot about it. It was midday before I realized what day it was. We did not go out to dinner and a movie, or make plans to get away for the weekend. It was incredibly low key and casual. A quick kiss and a "Happy Anniversary Love" and we were on to the next thing in our schedule. That's not to say we won't try to get out together and connect in celebration, it's just that August is often a busy month for us, and so it is very easy to put off the big celebration in favour of a more laid back approach. The problem with this is that the special days tend not to look much different than our "ordinary time". When we allow the everyday busyness of our lives to be the focus of our days, and we forget to celebrate the special moments that laid the foundation for the life we share together, we begin to take it for granted. We sort of forget each other. I realized recently, I treat my relationship with God in much the same way.

I don't actually remember a specific day when I decided to commit my life to God and accepted Jesus as my Saviour. I was raised in church, and I have always felt God's presence in my life. I won't say I have always been faithful, because I most assuredly have not. But my faith has been a central piece of who I am for as long as I can remember. I have gotten very comfortable with my relationship with God. And unfortunately that does mean I regularly forget to celebrate and give thanks for the things that got me here. All the ways God has come through for me time and time again. And just like with my husband, when I forget to make the time to celebrate it, I take this relationship for granted.

In Deuteronomy, God's law for his people is laid out. These are they ways He asks them to set themselves apart from the people that surround them. But it's not all about the rules, regulations, and consequences of disobedience. In chapter 16 there are also 3 feasts that God sets for them observe.

" Three times a year all your males shall appear before the Lord your God at the place He

will choose: at the festival of unleavened bread, at the festival of weeks and at the festival of booths." Deuteronomy 16:16a, NRSV

All of these festivals are dedicated times of remembrance. The festival of unleavened bread is a more somber affair, as the Israelites remember being brought out of slavery in Egypt. But the other two are times of celebration, to rejoice and thank God for all He has provided. It was important to Him that His people take the time to remember the history of their relationship with Him, and also to celebrate the blessings of all His goodness, so He put it right in the covenant He gave them. He did not want them to forget their story. God wanted Israel to take time to look back at where they had come from, and give thanks and celebrate where they are now. Then they got too comfortable in their relationship with the Creator of the Universe. They grew complacent, and didn't take the time to remember the faithfulness of God. They lost sight of the foundation of their grand Love Story and did not honour their covenant vows. They forgot God.

I don't want to forget God. I don't want to be so comfortable in my "Ordinary Time" that I forget how miraculous and amazing my story really is. I want to intentionally make time to acknowledge God's faithfulness and blessings in my life. Just like with my marriage, I want to honour my vows. Not just by following the rules, but also by celebrating, and reveling, and rejoicing in this gift I have been given.

So here's to a faith that is marked as much by the joy and celebration of all the beautiful things I am grateful for, as it is by faithfulness in hardship. And maybe a few more calendar reminders.