And God Smiles - Another in the Wedding Series
They said God would smile today. And I'm fairly certain that they were right. It was a wedding, but unlike any I had ever attended in the past. There were no flowers, dresses, tuxedos, limos, caterers, attendants, ushers, flower girls, or panicking mothers of the brides. There was simply sunshine, a beach, God, and a spiritual guide. In truth, I wasn't even invited. Not to the ceremony anyway. None of us were. We were invited to the 'reception', 'after party'. The fifteen of us trickled in slowly as the sun sank lower and lower on the horizon and were relegated to a balcony overlooking the beach. There was plenty to eat and drink while we waited and music already playing in the background. I'm not sure if we were supposed to watch. Some of us did; some of us didn't. They were private, so very private, when it came to this wedding that we weren't sure which seemed more rude - to watch or to wait.
I watched. I wanted to see. I couldn't take my eyes away from them all day. I was one of the lucky few. I was asked to come early and spend the day. They were my 'Besties'. I introduced them, and while they tried to deny it for far too long, I knew the first moment I saw them together. God smiled that day, too. He knew, as I knew, that two soul mates had found each other. And today they were getting married. Before Him. Showing their love of Him and their thanks. To them, it was more an affirmation than a wedding. Their souls had been united long ago, so this ceremony wasn't meant to bind them together for all eternity. God had already done that an eternity ago. This was their day with God to praise Him and affirm all that He had given them. This is why none of us were invited.
I arrived first, then our friend who would be their spiritual guide. We joked and laughed, ate lunch, watched the people on the beach, and soaked up some sun. We were light. We were happy. It was a day like any other at the beach house. We'd all been there many times before. The wedding was scheduled for the moments just before sunset. As time grew closer, they grew quieter. They excused themselves separately to get dressed and ready. I was busy making drinks for the newly arriving guests when they re-emerged, each dressed in white. One more a white sundress and the other rolled up khaki pants and a white blouse with the sleeves rolled slightly. They looked at our friend, the spiritual guide, who said that they better get after it if they were going to make it before sunset. She stood and walked to the door, letting it close behind her. They looked silently at each other and followed.
As they walked down the stairs holding hands, we took up our positions on the balcony. The ceremony would take place about fifty yards away where the waves broke slowly on the beach. After a few steps, they let go and walked several feet apart, each keeping to her own thoughts. Their guide was several paces ahead at this point. When she reached a place just above the waves she stopped and waited, facing the vast ocean and the setting sun. She must have heard them draw closer. She turned to face them.
Their vows were a secret and we were too far away to hear anything. They stood facing each other and slowly grasp hands. We could see them speak, look at each other, and raise their eyes to above to God. Our friend, the Spiritual Guide, pulled two rings from her pocket and they were exchanged. A few more words were spoken, then they slowly hugged and held each other a moment. Their guide hugged them briefly and made her way back up the beach. They stood there arm and arm watching the sun sink on the horizon. They turned and started walking down the beach, hands barely touching, alone with their God.
Those of us who dared to watch had tears in our eyes as we moved away from our positions at the rail. I exhaled. Though not a 'wedding', it was the most amazing union that I had ever witnessed. They came together before God, declared their love for each other and their love for Him. This is what it should be about - soul mates finding each other and thanking God for the love He has blessed them with. I smiled,, wiped away my tears, and made a drink. We would toast them and God tonight with a few drinks and a few friends. And we would all be smiling, including God. Just as they said He would be.
I watched. I wanted to see. I couldn't take my eyes away from them all day. I was one of the lucky few. I was asked to come early and spend the day. They were my 'Besties'. I introduced them, and while they tried to deny it for far too long, I knew the first moment I saw them together. God smiled that day, too. He knew, as I knew, that two soul mates had found each other. And today they were getting married. Before Him. Showing their love of Him and their thanks. To them, it was more an affirmation than a wedding. Their souls had been united long ago, so this ceremony wasn't meant to bind them together for all eternity. God had already done that an eternity ago. This was their day with God to praise Him and affirm all that He had given them. This is why none of us were invited.
I arrived first, then our friend who would be their spiritual guide. We joked and laughed, ate lunch, watched the people on the beach, and soaked up some sun. We were light. We were happy. It was a day like any other at the beach house. We'd all been there many times before. The wedding was scheduled for the moments just before sunset. As time grew closer, they grew quieter. They excused themselves separately to get dressed and ready. I was busy making drinks for the newly arriving guests when they re-emerged, each dressed in white. One more a white sundress and the other rolled up khaki pants and a white blouse with the sleeves rolled slightly. They looked at our friend, the spiritual guide, who said that they better get after it if they were going to make it before sunset. She stood and walked to the door, letting it close behind her. They looked silently at each other and followed.
As they walked down the stairs holding hands, we took up our positions on the balcony. The ceremony would take place about fifty yards away where the waves broke slowly on the beach. After a few steps, they let go and walked several feet apart, each keeping to her own thoughts. Their guide was several paces ahead at this point. When she reached a place just above the waves she stopped and waited, facing the vast ocean and the setting sun. She must have heard them draw closer. She turned to face them.
Their vows were a secret and we were too far away to hear anything. They stood facing each other and slowly grasp hands. We could see them speak, look at each other, and raise their eyes to above to God. Our friend, the Spiritual Guide, pulled two rings from her pocket and they were exchanged. A few more words were spoken, then they slowly hugged and held each other a moment. Their guide hugged them briefly and made her way back up the beach. They stood there arm and arm watching the sun sink on the horizon. They turned and started walking down the beach, hands barely touching, alone with their God.
Those of us who dared to watch had tears in our eyes as we moved away from our positions at the rail. I exhaled. Though not a 'wedding', it was the most amazing union that I had ever witnessed. They came together before God, declared their love for each other and their love for Him. This is what it should be about - soul mates finding each other and thanking God for the love He has blessed them with. I smiled,, wiped away my tears, and made a drink. We would toast them and God tonight with a few drinks and a few friends. And we would all be smiling, including God. Just as they said He would be.
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