Marriage Most everything worthwhile is hard. Most every couple who has been married for a long time say that while it’s been good, it’s also been challenging. Some have a more challenging time than others. Marriage, like life, is full of ups and downs. In his book, “The Second Mountain,” David Brooks explains how he fell off his first mountain of success and ended up in the valley of despair when he went through his divorce. Yet, by losing, he found there was more to life than just fame, fortune and family. He found a second mountain of significance. Tim Keller’s book, “The Meaning of Marriage,” is the book I give to engaged couples. It has great insight. One of its central ideas is that our identity must come from someone greater than our spouse – we belong to Jesus Christ. Our only source of love and meaning cannot revolve around another human being. That is idolatry. We must love the One who has the Name above every other name. When we know that identity, we live with abundance in our other relationships. We have something to offer and to give to others. Christian marriage unites two very different and imperfect people into a covenant, knowing the greater purpose of their union is not merely for their own blessing, but for the blessing of the world. The wonderful story of Ruth concludes with her legacy. She blessed the world by her commitment during a very difficult period in her life. Her great-grandson was David. Ruth is part of the genealogy of Jesus. - Pastor Tom Harrison