(To hear Lori read the story click)here

There is a sweet yet confusing story in the New Testament about young women who want to go to a wedding. Five of them were allowed to come in and five were not. I remember thinking as a child that it was mean to shut out those girls. I would certainly have opened the door for them. Even if it was past my bedtime.

 

The ones who were invited in had oil in their lamps while the others had empty vessels. They were told to go and fill their lamps and then they could come too.

 

John explained the story to me as one not of random exclusion but of preparation. Getting ready for marriage is as important as preparation for a job, or parenthood. It is reasonable for a potential employer to admit people who have adequately studied for a position while refusing those who are ill suited. Although babies are born to women who have readied themselves through reading, good nutrition and prenatal care as well as women who have not, things usually go much better in the first scenario.

 

The lamps in the story needed oil to keep burning. Marriage needs love in order to live. Oil gives light, and warmth and provides a lubricant for reducing friction. When we are kind to our partner the friction goes down as well.