Echoes & Waterfalls
In the beginning, the Lord spoke and creation began. Every word God spoke, He considered good.
If you have ever been in a long hallway with the right dimensions, you are familiar with an echo, the phenomenon of sound waves bounce off a surface and back to the listener. In a similar way, our perception of life, the manifestation of God’s creation, is the ultimate echo - the echo that forever exclaims God’s truth and wisdom to the observer.
Matthew 11:15 says “Whoever has ears, let them hear.” These echoes contain the key to life. Will we listen?
Like many, I get a profound sense of awe when exposed to nature’s beauty. I’m humbled when in the middle of massive bodies of water or at the base of large mountains. Despite how advanced we are as a species, there is a special sense of awe, wonder and beauty that can only be experienced in nature. It is no surprise that many metaphors and parables refer to the characteristics of nature.
My wife and I found ourselves in a more natural habitat than our typical urban Decatur, GA when we went on a 3-day marriage retreat organized by our church to Amicalola falls, home of the highest waterfall in GA. This would mark our first trip away without our son since he was born. We didn't know what to expect going into it, but I believe both my wife and I would agree we got way more out of it that we expected.
In hindsight, when I think of the location of the retreat, that being the home of the highest waterfalls in GA, it made me think about how waterfalls illustrate a beautiful picture of a Godly marriage. Another echo.
I think many will agree that the volume of the water, height and width are the main variables that add to the magnificence of a waterfall. A magnificent waterfall is also a powerful waterfall; oftentimes transforming and reshaping the ground and rocks below it.
Metaphorically, the institution of marriage is meant to resemble a magnificent and powerful waterfall, but that is not always the case. If marriage is intended to be a reflection of Gods love for the church, it means it also has the potential to be immensely powerful and purposeful.
During the retreat we participated multiple guided sessions, hard conversations and deep reflection which created opportunities for growth and healing. We were reminded of what marriage means biblically. We asked ourselves if our marriage reflected the standards demonstrated in the Bible and if God was at the center, in essence, the source of our Marriage.
A Godly marriage prioritizes their individual love of God as the foundation of their relationship. That love overflows into their love for each other. The product of that love generates great power and is transformative.
Have you ever seen a waterfall during a drought? It is a sad thing to see. It is a stark image of wasted potential or a reminder of what was once there. This would be representative of a godless marriage or a marriage that no longer seeks God as their source.
On the second day of the retreat, my wife and I had a chance to see the waterfall. It was no Niagra falls, but it was beautiful. While taking it all in, my friend said, “Imagine what the water fall looked like after the rains from the hurricane.” Seeing the waterfall in its fullness would’ve been a sight to see. It would've been amazing. In a similar way, prioritizing God in your marriage is like requesting God to increase the rain supply so that the waterfall can be as magnificent as it was created to be. Seeking God’s overflowing river of wisdom and love will allow our marriage to be one that resembles a magnificent waterfall that is both powerful in nature, and capable of transforming and shaping the next generation.
If the river keeps flowing, the waterfall will always exist. I pray that is true for our marriage. This was our first marriage retreat, but it definitely will not be our last.
