Sometimes I
refer to an experience as a ‘taste of God’s kingdom’. Love is expressed in a
meaningful way. The Holy Presence is felt deeply. God’s amazing grace is made
visible. It points to God and God’s coming reign over the world. But it’s only
a “taste”, a “foretaste” of what’s to come.
Last weekend
I discovered a “big gulp” of God’s kingdom, not just a “taste”. God’s kingdom
was made real in ways I’d never seen before. Love was expressed. The Holy
Presence was felt. God’s amazing grace was made dramatically visible.
It was my
daughter’s wedding, but it was so much more. It was the Kingdom. It was God’s
Community. It was the church as God intended.
The United
Methodist motto is “Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors.” I saw that lived out
last weekend. Everyone was valued and
honored. Amidst a diverse group of God’s people, all were welcomed and included.
Inclusivity plus diversity equals true community.
My
daughter’s wedding day, last Sunday, was one of the three best days of my life.
I am blessed far more than I’ll ever deserve.
The wedding
week started for me on Wednesday. I flew into Baltimore early because our daughter
Sarah and her partner Ali planned a two day backpacking trip on the Appalachian
Trail as a prelude to their wedding. We were in their kitchen on Wednesday afternoon
talking about wedding details.
I asked, “How will the pavilion in
the park be set up?”
“We’re setting up 150 chairs in a circle under
the pavilion roof,” Sarah explained.
“Where will the two of you be sitting - in the
center?”
“We haven’t decided yet, have we Ali? But it’s
possible we’ll just be sitting in random seats on opposite sides of the
pavilion.”
I retorted, “You won’t be sitting
together? Why would you do such a thing? The whole ceremony is about the two of
you and your relationship with each other. You two should be in the center
together.”
“Dad, you’ve got it all wrong. It’s
not about us” Sarah said. “It’s about ‘the community’. It’s about everyone in
the community having an equally valued place,” she explained passionately.
I just shook my head. This was not
going to be your ordinary wedding!
Wait..where's the rest??! Looking forward to the next installment.
ReplyDeleteI'm trying to break the whole experience down into several postings. Hope that is okay :)
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