The Wedding

You know those moments when you think to yourself, ". . . it couldn't get any more perfect than this . . ."

          . . . even when it's not perfect, perfect (in the sense of nothing going wrong)

                   . . . but it is perfect in its imperfection . . .

                      in its fullness
   
            and richness

     and beauty.


And tears fill your eyes just because your heart is so full to overflowing that it doesn't make sense to hold them in --

             and you let them fall

 out of love
 
            and appreciation

       awe

                  wonder

                              and delight.


I haven't been to a wedding in such a very long time.

And I miss them.

Weddings, that is.

It is an indescribable joy to be part of something bigger than all of us

                 when two lives become one -- when a family grows and blossoms -- and becomes more.

  Beautiful.


So yesterday, I cried when the wedding party began to process down the aisle to Teenage Dream done on piano and violin.  (and for the bride: Love Story.)  I cried the moment before the bride came to the door -- the entire congregation waiting with bated breath to catch that first glimpse of her.  I cried when I saw her dad's eyes on her as he walked her down the aisle.  I cried when the bells rang out the first lines of "Here Comes the Bride".  I cried during the choir piece and during the messages from pastors and fathers and grandfathers.

It was a masterpiece of beauty.

Because it was real.  And joyful.  And full of that transformative love that only comes from Jesus.

The Bride's Shoes  ;)

Plus, the reception was a blast.