This weekend, I’ll be presiding over my niece’s wedding. An honor, to be sure, but yes…it’s this weekend. The first Saturday evening and Sunday morning we’ll gather without our beloved Pastor Doug following his 22 years of ministry with us. Needless to say, it isn’t the best weekend to be gone during the immediacy of ministry transition and all, but the wedding venues that fervently drive the nuptial industry don’t care about such things. This will be the place that wonderful and love-filled memories will be made to last a lifetime for the bride and groom and family and friends, and that is what matters most.
However, I have this picture in my office, showing the family after my ordination festivities concluded. In the back line are Sarah and myself (we had only been dating a year then), as well as my three siblings and their respective spouses. In the middle row are my parents, who will be celebrating their 54th wedding anniversary soon enough. Then, in the forefront are 8 nieces and nephews (another one came along after), ranging from 4 to 11 years of age at that time. It seems like a lifetime ago, but not, at the same time.
Sometimes we’re under the impression pictures, whether digital or framed or those stuffed away in random drawers, are supposed to somehow magically stop time in its fervent tracks. Those 8 children weren’t supposed to grow up, at least not quite as quickly, but it’s happened. All of them have graduated from high school with the youngest of them off to higher levels of learning, and some taking on big kid (adulting) jobs, and the oldest getting married because she fell in love with someone she wants to create even more memories with to last a lifetime.
Of course, one of the most treasured takeaways from any wedding festivity beyond the vows and dances and cake is the wedding album, which of course, tends to only come in digital form now. Nevertheless, they are the images that will lead to laughter and heart-warmings and stories that will be told ad nauseum that perhaps the next generation will grow tired of hearing. And yet, through it all, a precious glimpse of God’s love emerges.
It is the love that refuses to stand still, no matter how much we wish it would halt itself in its fervent Divine tracks. It is the love that is convinced can be shared 54 years ago, this past weekend, this upcoming Saturday, and for all future worships and weddings and plain ‘ole sitting on the living room couch sifting through digital or framed or tucked away images. God’s love is patient for us stubborn humans. God’s love is kind when we’re at our wits end with nuptial plannings or wondering where the heck this world is going. And through it all, God’s love will boast in us, because no matter what, Jesus insists we are children of God, with all the faith, hope, and love to last for a lifetime and all eternity. Thanks be to God, indeed!
In Christ,
Pastor Brad