Tip of My Iceberg

photo courtesy of John Rogers

We met the family when the twins were ten-years-old. They were here in the States for three months for a needed break from work.

When we picked them up at the airport, Lydia, the daughter, was the only one who spoke English. The others were more comfortable with their mother tongue, Spanish.

We’ve gotten to know the family well over the years, and Lydia has stayed with us several times when her parents weren’t in town.

We love her as if she is our own.

We were delighted when we were invited to attend Lydia’s wedding in Barcelona, Spain and decided it was wrong to miss celebrating with one we loved so dearly. We combined a little business with the wedding, and we’ve been blown away by the graciousness, not only of our friends, but people we’ve met along the way.

Spanish weddings are quite different than American nuptials. Lydia and Oscar had no bridesmaids or groomsmen, and the ceremony consisted of his brother sharing about the couple and the hope of their commitment to love one another, then the couple spoke to those attending first, expressing their appreciation for us being there, The two of them then spoke of their love and commitment to each other, their gratitude for how the Lord brought them together. Lydia’s mom and dad performed the marriage itself.

It was all done in Spanish. Rather, Catalonian, a Spanish dialect.

We couldn’t understand much of anything except for the passion with which these two young people spoke to us and to each other. It was an intimate gathering, where we’d been invited to share in their mutual love. An honor and a privilege.

I couldn’t understand anything. I got the gist of it, but the words didn’t communicate the specifics.

Until the end of their vows, when each one proclaimed in English, “I’m all in.”

There is something so powerful about an all-in attitude. In Hebrew, the word is HINEINI, and it is an expression of a person willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish what the Lord has asked of them. It’s a sign of commitment and clarity of purpose. A promise that will be kept. All in means no going back.

That was Jesus’ attitude on the cross when He paid the penalty for all the wrong we’ve done. In the hours before His arrest, He wrestled in His humanity with His Father, knowing the pain, not just physical, but the emotional and spiritual pain of taking on the evil and guilt of the world for all time.

For all of us.

He asked His disciples to wait and pray for Him.

“He walked away, about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, ‘Father, if You are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from Me. Yet I want Your will to be done, not Mine.’ Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened Him.” Luke 22:41-43.

That’s an all-in attitude. Understanding the consequences of a decision and yet being willing to take responsibility for the choice being made. Jesus knew what it would cost Him to go to the cross, and in His humanity, He asked for relief. As God, He chose the will of His Father.

That’s a commitment to us of freedom from guilt and shame if we accept His gift of salvation. He doesn’t grade us on the wrongs we’ve done–wrong is wrong, whatever it looks like. Any wrongdoing in our lives keeps us from a perfect God.

But we have the perfect gift from the One who took our place.

Lydia and Oscar made a commitment to each other to stay the course of their marriage. They owned responsibility for doing the work it will take to walk through the hard times as well as the good, to stay by each other’s side no matter what happens. They will disappoint and frustrate each other, but being all in doesn’t give them the option of giving up.

Jesus never gives up on us. He offers a gift of grace to all who will take it.

He promises He’s all in with us.