Love has brought us together. Joshua
and Megan, it is my honor to have
the privilege to officiate at your wedding this evening in front of all your
family and friends. Since the two of you
did not take my advice and elope, you will now have to suffer the price that
must be paid . . . yeah, you know it . . . a meditation. In all honesty, I am not use to giving
meditations during wedding services . . . not use to giving little tidbits
about marriage . . . but, your mothers said that they wanted their bang for
their bucks and a twenty minute service would do it. So, I apologize to the two of you, to the
congregation that is gathered, and to all those advice columnists out there in
the world . . . I am going to share a few words of marital wisdom and advice. Take your shoes off, relax, and enjoy the
show . . . we should be done in about an hour!
I told you . . . you should have eloped!
I want you to know, that I mulled over what I was going to say for
several months. I was told to put what marriage
means into my own words . . . and if that is the case, then run boy, run . . .
it is not too late!
Actually, I am kidding. This
ceremony of marriage is a confirmation of your love for each other . . . it is
a visual demonstration of your willingness to come together, to share your
lives, and to take care of one another as you journey through life through the
good days and the bad days . . . through sickness and health . . . through
richer and poorer. You are saying that I
“I want to be with you and only you.”
You are declaring that tie that binds you together in front of these
witnesses and God. Because of this
willingness, I am going to let you in on a little secret . . . marriage is a
miracle. Author Elizabeth Gilbert
writes: “To be fully seen by somebody, then, and be loved anyhow—this is a human
offering that can border on the miraculous.”
So marriage will be for the two of you.
In its simplest definition, a miracle reveals God’s presence. God’s presence is all around us like the air
that we breathe. In the beauty of this
setting, we see God’s presence. But,
more importantly, we see and experience God’s presence in those who have
gathered here this evening. In the Book of Genesis the writers tell us that
all of humanity—each and every one of us—has been created in the image of God—that
God is with us and in us. God’s presence
is here . . . and, it will always be wherever we are. So it will be for the two of you.
Remember this as you enter into this bond of marriage . . . that God is
with you, always with you. Remember this
because marriage does not end with the two of you saying, “I do.” Far from it . . . you are just beginning and
there is a long, long way yet to go . . . and, it won’t always be easy. In fact, I want you both to understand that
marriage is hard work. Marriage is not a
noun . . . is not stagnant, but is a living, growing, fluid verb that is
constantly changing as you journey through life. And, because it is a living and growing
thing, it will have more than its fair share of ups and downs, joys and
concerns, tears and laughter, good and bad . . . but, remember, you are not
alone . . . God is with you.
So, here is my advice—in my own words . . . work hard at your
relationship as husband and wife. Heed
the vows that you are about to make to one another . . . take them seriously .
. . live them out each day. Marriage is
not easy, but together you make it a blessing.
Learn to be open and honest with one another . . . be willing to talk to
one another . . . and, be willing to listen—really listen. Don’t be afraid to share your dreams and
concerns with one another. Be willing to
look at life through one another’s eyes, to see one another in all that you
have been created to be . . . trust me, you won’t always like what you see . .
. you won’t always be able to change what you don’t like, but see it through
the eyes of another and discover the gift that the other truly is. Accept one another for the gift that God
create you to be . . . this is where real love begins and is sustained.
God’s presence is being revealed this evening . . . in plain sight for
those who have eyes to see with . . . a presence that is always with us. We are witnessing a miracle. If there is nothing else you remember from
this meditation, remember this: God is with us . . . God is with you . . .
always. Never forget God’s presence in
your lives . . . not just in those moments while hiking in the mountains . . .
not just in those moments when gathered for worship in a church . . . not just
in those moments of silence and prayer, but in every moment in which you live .
. . God is with you. And, because God is
with you, you are never alone . . . ever.
If you remember God’s presence in your lives . . . in the good and the
bad . . . in the easy and difficult . . . in richness and poverty . . . health
and sickness . . . in the boring and exciting times . . . in the thick of an
argument . . . you will do fine in this marriage business. Marriage is tough work, but if you remember
to keep the “other” centered in your love and devotion you can make it through
anything . . . you will discover the miracle that is marriage.
Speaking, not only for myself, but others who are gathered here this
evening, we are honored and blessed to be witnesses of your promises of love
and devotion. May the love you plant
this evening grow into the love that lasts a life time and beyond. Thank you for giving us this opportunity to
be reminded, once again, of the presence of God in our lives. If you keep one another and God in your
hearts . . . acknowledging one another . . . listening to one another . . . the
miracle is born. Remember it is love
that has brought you together . . . remember, God is love . . . quite a miracle
we have here in the making. May the
miracle last . . . Amen.
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