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August 22nd.
2007
EMBRACING
As she stood there misty
eyed, the moment caused most around her to have the same response. In
the background the country singer sang, “I loved her first” Later that
night tears flowed all over again as the father serenaded his “little
girl” on this her wedding night. This magical evening was the recent
wedding of our youth minister, Christine Rosier, and Jeff Avery.
Through the years as you might imagine I have been part of literally
hundreds of weddings. Each brings it’s own special expression of love.
Most prominent is obviously between the bride and groom. Yet, right up
there is that of family and friends.
Part of my standard practice is at the beginning of the homily during
the wedding is to address not the betrothed but those gathered to,
witness and blessing of these two persons in their marriage. My strong
encouragement, in fact you could even say challenge, is to make sure
those present are there for these folks not only on these “enchanting
evenings” or “affectionate afternoons” but also on the “mundane Mondays”
and the “turbulent Tuesdays.”
In essence this is consistent with the well-worn phrase, “It takes a
village to raise a child.” The reality is it takes a loving community of
family and friends and, maybe most important, faith to sustain a long
term, loving relationship.
I once heard a best man suggest in his wedding toast to the father of
the bride, “It takes a real man to give away an angel.” This of course
comes from the traditional question of, “Who gives this woman to be
married to this man?” With all respect to the tradition (and less so to
the historical background of children as property) frankly, no one is
“giving anyone away.”
Rather, we as family, friends and faith community are, through our
prayers, love and support, more firmly embracing, “Those whom God has
joined together.”
Blessings,
The Rev. Brian N. Prior, Rector
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