This weekend I officiated a beautiful, well-attended wedding. Two attractive young people, relieved to have months of choosing florists and tuxes over, were happy and sparkly. They stood in a candle lit gazebo in front of their family and friends and promised
for better or for worse, for richer, or poorer, in sickness and in
health, to love and cherish, forsaking all others, for as long as we both
shall live.
The next day I sat in a trailer sunk into the side of a gravel road. A husband sat by his wife's hospital bed. He talked about her cancer and the lines on his face deepened. And then he reminisced.
"We've been married 50 years. 51 in December. We went to the courthouse one Saturday. Just her, me, our moms and the judge. Paid him ten dollars."
"Did you dress up?" I had to ask. He laughed. "Wore the best we had. Don't know that i'd call it dressing up." He stroked her forehead and tucked a gray hair behind her ear. She didn't stir. He took her hand again.
"I'll tell you what. Best 10 dollars I ever spent."
for better or for worse, for richer, or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and cherish, forsaking all others, for as long as we both shall live.
I think that qualifies as a solid I do.
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
1 Corinthians 13:7
I've done some unique weddings, but this one was near the top of the list. For starters the groom wore a green gown. A green hospital gown that is, blue support socks and an oxygen cannula in his nose. A crowd of around 30 nurses, dieticians, therapists, fellow patients and friends gathered in the sunlit alcove leading into 6 Heart. This couple had been together for 15 years and an upcoming surgery had been their wake up call to stop just acting like they were married and really be married.
We started with the groom sharing how "this woman taught me that there is love at first sight." The bride shared why "this man" was worth marrying anywhere. They confidently vowed to be faithful "for better or for worse, in sickness and in health." Which really seems to ring truer in a hospital. They'd already loved each other through all that. I pronounced them husband and wife. And then they kissed such a kiss that the nurses began heckling "check the heart monitor!"
Once again the hospital puts everything in perspective. Priorities get so clear here. I've been to many weddings. Seen thousands of dollars spent on the perfect tux and the perfect gown. Seen months of planning a myriad of details. Seen flowers and cake flavors and songs agonized over. And rarely have I seen the level of adoration and pleasure that this couple had in their impromptu pre-surgery hallway celebration.
Do I want this much clarity and confidence in my life? I do!
Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 1 Corinthians 13:7
