Imagine a world with no color–all grey. How depressing. Who delights in a cloudy, dreary grey day? Or loves the color of ash or enjoys the coldness of a slab of lead?
Wikipedia identifies grey as literally a color “without color”. This colorless pigment is often associated with conformity, boredom, uncertainly, old age and indifference. Less than one percent of the population name grey as their favorite color.
So why all this recent attention to grey ?
I am aware that the book Fifty Shades of Grey is breaking sales’ records around the world. And I am aware that it refers to Christian Grey and various sexual exploits. And I understand that the movie is one of the most highly anticipated releases of 2015. One commentator wrote that multitudes, wearing dark shades, will literally try sneaking in the theater, pretending to enter another movie.
The book is touted as a must read for romance-hungry women; it is the fastest selling paperback book -EVER. It is the first ebook to sell one million copies. Immediate tears played havoc with my make-up when I heard that 1, 000 Christian women surveyed said that Fifty Shades of Grey, a book classified as soft porn, “mommy porn”, and full of abuse was their favorite book of the year. (2012)
Color is exciting–expressing strength, power, love, passion, mystery and joy. Tom and I have lived fifty (plus) years of color. Why would I choose “grey”? Of course, there have been bleak, dark days, but we determined to change the color. It was a sad, colorless day in 1966 when we lost our infant first son and second child. We soon changed that day to blue, the color of faith and trust. The happy yellow has often been my kitchen color. At times health issues colored our days with difficult hues, but we soon chose to live in the wisdom of purple and in the freshness of green. Issues with children called for the strength and authority of black.
It is so easy to change a color–you can repaint your walls in a week! Color is a choice. God has given us the beautiful privilege to don colored glasses. We often see through a mirror “darkly” but when we are face to face with the One who loves us most, we see beautiful colors. (my paraphrase of I Corinthians 13: 12 ) There are times when I must repaint, even mixing tints–but I select one over grey.
But it is white we cannot live without; it is the backdrop, the base, the common of life. Especially it is the beginning and constant color in marriage–in any year of that union. White embodies purity, goodness, light–and safety. There is no color quite as beautiful as pure white.
This week is the red of Valentine’s. Yes, we immediately think of love and passion, but it denotes strength, power and courage. What a mockery that this sordid film debuts on the weekend for lovers.
I have no need or desire for fifty shades of grey. Why would I choose that color when my marriage brims with vibrant, meaningful hues of the rainbow. Life with Tom Suiter is one colorful journey.
“Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.”
Psalm 34: 5
a journey to now 
Love it Barb…yes we can choose our colors.an I choose the rainbow.love the bright colors the Lord gave us!
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i agree, grey is drab and lifeless, but color envigorates and energizes. I believe every day should be a bright “son”shiny day as we walk with our Lord! I’m confident the Lord made the rainbow with all those beautiful colors to demonstrate that “colors” represent His promises!
Blessings,
Ron Wilkerson
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I always enjoy reading your “journey” although I’ve never written any response, this time I feel I have to. I love it Barb! Yes God’s love gives us always a choice and I constantly pray that I choose the right one. Brighter colors definitely radiates! And they cover up all the shades of grey.
We have a snowfall today, the “pure” white snow changed the grey shade of winter. God’s creation!
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Barb, As usual you have out done yourself again. Until last night at church, I knew nothing about Fifty Shades of Gray. Good thing, right? It is sad but allot of couples no nothing about the type love you and Tom and Sam and I have. When we were in Albany, GA. I was office manager to an orthodontic office and supervised five other women. All married and several had been divorced.
Not a one of them had a clue to the type marriage/love I had with Sam. It broke my heart to see how they missed out on the beauty of loving to please your mate and feel his devotion to me and to know of the love, encouragement, protection we shared with one another each and every day. Sure, sometimes gray tries to creep in, but we quickly reach out for the beautiful colors to brighten the situation and once again enjoy the strength of love all over again. Thanks for the blessing you bring to me at each writing. .
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Barb, you’re such an inspiration to those that love and want to honor the Lord our God! Christian life is not about what we do but who we are! Ephesians 4:30 reads – I entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Marriage isn’t always easy or fun – and definitely has some “blah” colors (speaking with 21 years of experience :), but if we can set our sights on the Lord above each morning and throughout the day – even when the desire isn’t there – he will not forsake us and he will show us vibrant colors and the light of his presence that will send tears from awe down our faces. I look forward to reading more of your posts – I know they will be a blessing to me. Thanks for taking this stance and glorifying the Lord! I love you my dear sister in Christ.
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