happily ever after....

The sun is setting on the manicured lawn.  Twinkling little lights illuminate the trees.  Candles are lit.  Beautiful girls in beautiful dresses hold ribboned flowers.  Handsome men in tuxes escort people to their seats.  Inside, the finishing touches of a delicious, four course meal are finalized.  A three tired cake is being photographed.  Guest are laughing and smiling, excited for the ceremony to begin.


It's like being in a fairy tale.  Those few moments where everyone looks their very best, believes the very best, brings their very best.  And as I stand on the porch, waiting for my signal to start, I again marvel that I get to be a part of it.  I get to take their raw expressions of love and turn them into stories that will make their guests laugh, and vows that will make their families cry.  I get to take their ideas and turn them into a seamless program, directed from center stage.   I get to stand next to the groom as he watches his bride walk down the aisle toward him.  I see the tears in their eyes, the quiver of their chins.  I say the words that have been said for hundreds of years, Do you?.... yet knowing that we are creating a totally unique moment.  I get to invite the shouts and applause of joy that follow the pronouncement of husband and wife.


I've loved weddings since I was a little girl.  My dad would bring me his boutonniere from weddings he sang at.  He would draw pictures of the dresses on the program.  My mom would patiently plan my weddings with me over and over again.  To this day, every wedding brings me pleasure and inspiration.


Weddings are a great balance to my other life.  I have two jobs.  Hospice chaplain and wedding officiant.  Both are defined by moments of intimacy, love and transition.   One is a hopeful beginning, the other is a reconciled ending.  One feels like a fairy tale, one is the harshest reality.  Both are holy.


And for both of these experiences, this passage speaks loudly to me.


I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."  Revelation 21:2-4