It was a great adventure and delight to serve as officiant at the wedding of Anne and Aaron this past August. Anne and her family are dear friends of my family for many years.The bride was beautiful, the groom handsome, and both of their families were celebrating these two as they made their vows and committed their lives to each other. They are mad for each other and it is easy to believe in their love.
I think it is honorable to just disappear with your sweetheart, elope and get married on your own, but families are usually so eager to celebrate the occasion. While a wedding can be an experience of a lifetime for the couple, also it can be a deeply meaningful experience for the families. It can be a crucible where memory is evoked, kinship ties are felt more deeply, and aches and longings of the heart are more poignant for everyone. The hunger for relationship can be vivid, and our loneliness sharpened at such times.
During these days of the wedding preparation and celebration, the bride and groom, being at the center of the spectacle as they are, have more power than they usually have to encourage and bless (small "b") others, I think. And these blessings can fall on and nourish the recipients like spring rain on hungry dry ground.
There is a beloved old Irish folk song, the Kerry Dance, with the lyrics,
Was there a sweeter Colleen in the dance than Eily More, Or a prouder lad than Thady as he boldly took the floor?
In this case, both the bride and groom probably have sweetness, pride and boldness in equal measure, as they should. It is a sweet honor and delight to behold the lovers, remembering and reliving our own loves, perhaps shedding a tear at the passing of time and our losses, and shining our smiles of belief and celebration back toward the couple.
© 2010 Cristopher Anderson
All Rights Reserved
No comments:
Post a Comment