Aside from my own wedding, and those of my children, I think this was the most beautiful wedding I have ever attended. The atmosphere of this particular wedding was different from most.
There was something going on, not an electricity, not an expectancy, something very different. Maybe it was a relief. I shall have to ponder this as I write. Maybe by the time I'm done, I'll have it figured out.
A few weeks before the wedding I received a phone call from the bride and was asked if I would do the scripture reading. I was stunned. And honored. And felt completely inadequate. Who was I to be asked to read at this most awesome occasion? I stammered a little over the phone and then, of course, said yes. I remember praying hard after that. I surely did not want to ruin her wedding in any way. And if you know me at all, you know I am not the most coordinated person in the world. Oh no, not me. I am clumsy to a fault. So, pray I did. I asked God for 2 things (that I remember anyway) 1) that I would not cry as I read, and 2) that I would not trip. Neither happened, He heard my prayers.
This wedding took place in a very beautiful vineyard, out in the open, with the bride and groom under an arbor made of driftwood like branches. Flowers and ribbon were intertwined, and it in its simplicity reminded me of the couple. As I walked up to take some photos (I was also asked to snap a few landscape pics) I thought of Jacki and Chris--a simple love made so complex by their story of Jacki's miraculous healing. That's what I thought of as I looked at those branches--their lived were braced together by God, so much more than most young couples getting married. Why? Because they had survived the unimaginable--they almost lost each other and had not that miracle occurred, Chris would be alone. And Jacki would be with God. Yes, I believe that Arbor was significant in many ways--at least to me.
The wedding reception took place under a beautiful white tent, decorated with gorgeous flowers that I could not stop taking pictures of--the tables were laden with them. Friends and family sat talking, smiling, and I'm sure thinking about what could have been. Had not the miracle taken place. I was. I was thinking about it all night. As I saw the looks being passed back and forth between bride and groom, friend to friend, parent to parent...I think we were all thinking about it--all except the bride. For she had no recollection of it at all. She (fortunately) does not remember a thing. She doesn't remember her parent's forlorn faces and tears. She doesn't remember all those who prayed night after night that God would intervene. She does, however, remember the miracle and the look of praise and thankfulness on the faces of all those who love her. She saw it the night of her wedding. We could not hide it. Our faces reflected God's miracle. How could they not, she was standing right before us.
As I got up to read scripture that night, I said that I was never surprised by anything that God does, but that I was always amazed. Yes, we serve an awesome and amazing God. He never surprises me, because He always does what He says He will do, but He does amaze me, oh yes He does.
You see, last weekend I went to a wedding. And I saw a miracle. And I was amazed. That's the word I was looking for, a feeling of amazement.
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