sacrament

Photos courtesy of Daphne

This weekend I had the privilege of attending the wedding of Heather & Wes, who are dear to me even though I haven't spent a lot of time in the same city as them. They serve with Word Made Flesh in El Alto, Bolivia among exploited women and their children. Their wedding was the celebration of the great surprises God has in store for his children.

The setting of the wedding was a beautifully deep greeny-blue back yard in Port Huron, Michigan with a creek running through it, chairs on the lawn, and a rustic chuppa draped with lace. The homily was a charge, a blessing, a celebration of sacrament. The Episcopalian father who delivered it reminded us that "sacrament" is defined as a visible sign of an inward grace. I think it was one of the most moving weddings I have attended. Their lives are concecrated first to the giver of that invisible grace and, as a mysterious blessing, a covenant and visible sign of that primary sacred bond, to one another.

It was even better getting to spend time with friends whose wisdom, humor, compassion and convictions are a blessing to me and to those around them. And who can forget the generous hospitality and plethora of pumpkin spice donuts provided by good old Tom Horton and Bob Newton? My favorite line of the weekend had to be: "This fillet o' fish is SO good." Or maybe: "My jacket is missing. I left it at Curves. You just get so hot working out."



I didn't think it possible, but Matt & Julie's dear Finley is even cuter in person than he is in the pictures I've seen. My one regret of the weekend was a lousy half hour visit with Juls, during which I was trying to get ready for the wedding.

On Sunday when I returned home, my mams and pops (who are awesome and should definitely get on the blog wagon with The Kitchen Gnomes, which might soon be their very own if they desire to claim it.) picked me up from the airport and we had lunch together, which reminded me that although it is nice to go away, it is also good to return home.

I went to see Sufjan Stevens Sunday night, and it was a great concert, but for some reason was not quite as magical and warm as last year.

Some exciting things are in development in the realm of missions opportunities, but until the time is right, I'll continue to seek the Lord and try but mostly fail to cultivate gentleness and patience in the world of coffee and other people's addiction and leisure, all the while not taking myself too seriously and remembering that:

1. It is for freedom that Christ has set us free!
2. In spite of the wretched smell of airplanes & the small travails of delayed luggage and running through airports, the adventure is pretty much always worth it.
3. God's sense of humor is, of course, where our senses of humor were derived. And lately, I think he's pretty dang funny.
4. "For Your Love" by William Joel, played on the recorder, is indescribable.