Adventure 278: Swamp Living/Post C

Pot O' Gold

Fifty-nine days until the marriage license expires. Not to worry. The feet are nowhere near cold for the about to be weds. In fact, they are so busy, their feet are sizzling! Today, the tasks at wedding central included a final meeting with the pastor, a longtime friend, who gave two thumbs up and a Praise the Lord to Scott and Kate. A few details, like the minute by minute happenings of the actual service were finalized. Scott and Kate also mapped out the all important seating arrangements at the reception, and right now they are drafting their vows.  For them, as Scott said this morning, "The vows are our promises to each other that will last for eternity and beyond. Now that's commitment! Despite another full day here at wedding central, there was time to enjoy blueberry pancakes for breakfast, expertly prepared by Scott (Maybe Kate is the lucky one; culinary skills in a mate are, after all, highly desired). Judy and I have once again enjoyed the privilege of sharing alone time with Kate and Scott, which is not to say we're not looking forward to the arrival of other members of our family. Beginning today, a steady stream of misty eyed relatives will arrive, and soon everyone will join in the celebration. Weddings truly are a time of joy. The bittersweet was present today as well. Scott, Kate, Judy, and I took a little time right after breakfast to ride our bicycles over to Jane's grave. While all of us wish the Lord had allowed her to be here with us, I'm sure in his graciousness, God did grant Jane permission to move to the edge of heaven so she could take a peek at the wedding proceedings. We could all feel her smiling as we stood beside her stone, and I'm positive she knows her youngest daughter is in capable hands. More than that we just trust in the mercy and love of our Savior. He has, after all, made the greatest promise of all. Which brings me to the wedding word of the day: PROMISE. What an exquisite notion. A wedding promise is not shallow like a politician's promise, nor empty like a salesman's promise, nor expedient like a fatigued parent's. In the perfect sense, a wedding promise is like communion where a blood is exchanged, smeared and mingled into each other's veins in a visceral way until two become one. I think I just heard someone in the audience mutter, "That's really heavy man." Yes, it is. The weight of true promise is heavy in the sense that a commitment that lasts through the thick and thin of shared life carries with it the burden of expectation, the challenge of misfortune, and the uncertainty of change. It's no easy task to keep a promise. Like the band Grateful Dead sings in their song 'New Speedway Boogie'--"I don't know, but I've been told it's hard to run with the weight of gold. On the other hand I've heard it said that it's just as hard with the weight of lead." This is true as far as I've experienced. Sweet or bittersweet a promise kept is a promise lived. And a lived promise makes life good, especially today.

              We promise to travel side by side.

             We promise to support.

         Until eternity and beyond.