The Honeymoon is over...

The usual practice after getting married is to go on a "Honeymoon." Typically the Honeymoon is understood as a time of intimacy and seclusion where the opening cycle of the new marriage is supposedly the sweetest. Perhaps this is where some of the origin of the word comes from....
"Honey" - sweet / Moon - the cycle or the phase of the moon which lasts for about a month.
One source refers to newly married couples receiving a one month's supply of "honey mead" which is "honeyed wine."

Yesterday I heard the word "honeymoon" used in a different context.
With downcast eyes, defeated posture and a tone of voice that emanated sadness my friend declared that "the honeymoon is over."

My iWitness...

Have those words ever escaped your lips?

You are newly married and everything is blissful and then the first major misunderstanding takes place with one partner sleeping in the other room... The honeymoon is over.

Your new job is going like gangbusters and then all of a sudden your number one client decides to take their business elsewhere... The honeymoon is over.

You are a brand new Christian and your love for the Lord and the Church and your small group Bible study is higher than Mt. Everest. And then, of all things you overhear one of the ladies at church gossiping about you and makes a cutting remark... The honeymoon is over.

It's as if the big, bright Daffy Duck floatie that wraps around your waist in the pool suddenly starts to deflate. We find ourselves kicking up a storm so as not to sink. That which was as "sweet as honey" is no longer something we can count on and now it is time to look elsewhere for foundational support, encouragement.

Jesus was getting ready to preach in the synagogue at age 30 back in his hometown of Nazareth. It was his first public preaching assignment. He walked up to the scroll containing the words of the prophet Isaiah. Carefully untying the scroll, his strong carpenter worn hands began to stretch the scroll out to arms length. His piercing eyes dart back and forth until he finds the scripture from which he will preach. Anticipatory silence hangs in the air as Jesus takes a deep breath to read the ancient words.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
    because he has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
    and recovering of sight to the blind,
    to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.” (Luke 4. 18-19)

With proper reverence, Jesus rolls the scroll of Isaiah back up and then calmly sits down as all eyes in the synagogue are fixed upon him. Jesus breaks the silence with these words...

“Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

Basically, Jesus says, "I am the one Isaiah was prophesying about. I have arrived. I am the one!!"

The religious leaders of the day become so enraged at the pronouncement that in a mob mentality of madness the crowd with foaming mouths take Jesus to the edge of a cliff to throw him over in order to kill him...

The honeymoon was over...

Welcome to the reality that everything is not as sweet as honey.

People disappoint...
Friends betray...
Neighbors judge...
Clients lie...
Churches are full of sinners... (as they should be!!)
Spouses have issues...
Families are dysfunctional...

Yes... the honeymoon may be over, but our life is not.

My heart aches for my friend.
I do believe that the heart of Jesus aches for my friend.

And I do believe that Jesus will take my friend firmly by those strong carpenter hands as he does with all of us and with his voice and heart that is as sweet as honey whisper into our ears, "Come with me. I've been here before and let me show you the way out..."

And off we go...
The honeymoon is over...
The incredible journey is not...
In fact... it's just beginning....

And that's my iWitness...
Laugh often and fear not!
David!