[Image by StockSnap from Pixabay]

This afternoon took us out for coffee and dessert.  While waiting for our order to be completed, I was struck by the appearance of the barista “John” (not his their real name).  John, while retaining their gender-specific birth name, had freshly dyed purple hair in a man-bun as well as eye makeup with mascara. 

In that moment, I had an epiphany.

I see a day coming when there will be no more gender boxes on forms, no gender-specific bathrooms, locker rooms, departments in stores, clubs, or sports. In the new world, gender will be a non-issue, a thing of the past, from an archaic and non-enlightened age.

At the thought of it, I was suddenly and unexpectantly overcome with sadness.

For in that moment, it occurred to me that that the very order of the world is in danger of being rewritten.

“So God created mankind in his own image,
    in the image of God he created them;
    male and female he created them.”
–Genesis 1:27 (NIV)

“For you created my inmost being;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
 your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
 My frame was not hidden from you
    when I was made in the secret place,
    when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed body;
    all the days ordained for me were written in your book
    before one of them came to be.”
–Psalm 139:13-16 (NIV)

God revealed His plan in the creation of mankind/womankind, restating His role as the Creator three times in the Genesis passage. He employed fabulous creativity, making each of us unique. He created a gendered society with males and females created in His image. 

From the inborn desire to protect and nurture, to love fiercely and tenderly, from logic to compassion, the image of God is well represented in both genders.

I am so thankful to have been raised in an age where differences between men and women were celebrated and frustrating all at the same time, but they weren’t rubbed out. I am thankful that my husband of 46 years has been a man’s man.  He does all the heavy lifting, and whoa, am I grateful for that. He is my protector and my confidant. He is in some ways my polar opposite, but that’s okay. We are a team. A matched set. Different but alike.

Lord Jesus, come soon.

Love,
Gigi

The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. –Colossians 1:15-17 (NIV)