A couple of weeks ago, me and one of my best friends (and student), Mary, went to Starbucks to talk about Hosea 2. It is one of my favourite passages in the whole bible. It you haven't ever read it, you should; it's like if God were to re-write the story of the prodigal son specifically for girls. Anyways, me and Mary talked about the story, and how it was not about Gomer, but about us, Israel, the bride of Christ. At the end of the conversation, Mary didn't understand the whole of it, and remembered even less. One thing she did remember, and these were her own words, not something I had said, were beautifully reminiscent of verse 16. She said that God isn't supposed to be our master, but our husband. Afterwards, we rocked out to Holy (Wedding Day). It was grand.

         For me, the story of Hosea 2 is inextricably tied up with the story of Beauty and the Beast. To explain the depth of my love of fairy tales would take several posts, but, suffice to say, I love seeing the Gospel in stories that mean something to people, especially fairy tales, especially Beauty and the Beast (if you have the time, I strongly suggest everyone read this version, its great.)

         For the past week, a question has been in the back of my mind. First, I have to tell you a little about the most famous, early version of Beauty and the Beast. In it, Beauty goes to the beast in her father's place, like in the movie we know. Beauty goes, expecting that the Beast will eat her. Instead, she finds a wonderful life at the castle. Every evening, the Beast asks the same question:

Every evening after supper the Beast came to see her, and always before saying good-night asked her in his terrible voice:

"Beauty, will you marry me?"
And it seemed to Beauty, now she understood him better, that when she said, "No, Beast," he went away quite sad.

         And there is the question. "Kelsey, will you marry me?" Am I like Beauty, becoming a willing servant for the sake of other people, being friends with Jesus, talking to him only at meals, but still saying no to him every night? Do I live like Jesus is my husband, or my master? Like he is the lover of my soul or someone who I happen to live with? Do I enter the presence of the Lord out of duty or because I want to be there?

I want to answer yes...

She answered softly, "Yes, dear Beast."
As she spoke a blaze of light sprang up before the windows of the palace; fireworks crackled and guns banged, and across the avenue of orange trees, in letters all made of fire-flies, was written: "Long live the Prince and his Bride."
Turning to ask the Beast what it could all mean, Beauty found that he had disappeared, and in his place stood her long-loved Prince!