"Deep peace of the Running Wave To You" (Gaelic Blessing)
All waves are all like that in the end, having spent their fury or their gentle ripple, returning to a Shore that has been awaiting them for eternity. The froth of passion breaking on rocks; the joyous whitecaps skittering in dance to the music of a playful blow; the swells rolling mournfully to the dirge of a howling wind; a lifetime of surges, bellows, storms, sweet calm: the undercurrent of peace passes through the ocean of life below them all.
Each person who joined us during the wedding week came with their own lifetime of rolling waves, storms, joys and calm. Looking around the sea of faces at the wedding and reception, I saw the stories of us all - and the hopes for love and happiness that everyone held in their hearts for Brett and Stephanie. No doubt some were reliving their own experiences, as Michael and I remembered our own ceremony those short 40 years ago, and the adventures - and misadventures - of our precious child in his growing. "Is this the little boy I carried? Is this the little girl at play? I don't remember growing older; when did they?" Brett and Stephanie's grandparents once stood as lovingly committed to each other a blink-of-an-eye ago, then stood at some time each cradling one of these precious children in infancy, and stood with us now, on this lovely rise above Lopez Sound, their unseen presence embracing their progeny with that same love.
Family and friends gathered from afar on tiny Lopez Island, coming from England and Scotland and points North, South, East and West in North America, a delightful array of peerage and peers and Presences of love, joy and support. Michael's sister and husband drove their grand-daughters from Baton Rouge, through what will be memories for a lifetime for these two small girls. Lady Jane and Paul flew from England, and one of Brett's groom 'chicas' came from her acting gig in Scotland. So many came from so far to stand together and witness the vows, spoken by the bride and groom, but echoed in the hearts of all who were there.
There are details of the week to write about, too many for a short summer Saga. From the initial casual dinner on Sunday where two families first merged, to the wedding on Friday where two young people emerged as one couple committed in love before family and friends, there were activities and adventures non-stop. Hiking, seal-watching, eagle-spotting, boat rides, a mid-week multi-family co-mingling barbecue, mini-family gatherings and a few rare moments of chill-time made the week go by quickly. The extra events gave us all time to meet and greet the people who will be part of Brett and Stephanie's lives together, to put faces with the names of the stories we've heard over the years, to learn more of who these young people are by meeting those who have helped shape their lives.
Stephanie and Brett set the tone for the joy, love and friendship of the week by seeming to be everywhere at once, totally at ease with each other and the dual families that delighted in their attention. "Team work," Brett said at one point, as they split up and worked the crowded deck of the barbecue. We watched the team-work as the incredible efforts of their friends got the tent put up, the dance floor set, the lights strung, the lanterns hung, the luminaries set out and lit, and turned this magical spot on Lopez into a wedding wonderland. On cue, a sailboat anchored in the Sound below us and the sun came out mid-afternoon, glittering the water and spreading a blanket of light over the setting to the gentle chords of "Simple Gifts," played by Brett's aunt and his 12 year old cousin.
"Tis a gift to be simple; tis a gift to be free, 'tis the gift to come down where we ought to be...and when we find ourselves in the place just right, 'Twill be in the valley of love and delight." The lyrics, unsung, hung softly in the air.
So much work had gone into creating this moment. Stephanie and Brett's vision had become the perfect reality, with the tremendous help of her parents and their willingness and joy in turning over their home to all of us. The gardens glowed with multi-hued flowers; the tables sparkled with their white tablecloths and perfect place-settings, and an air of holy festivity settled on the gathering in the cool afternoon.
As we sat quietly, each with our own thoughts and emotions, we all said "I do," by our simple Presence. "I do" to the love of family, and the commitment to support this new fledgling flame of promised love; "I do" to the hopes, not just of this wedding on this day, but to the eternal quest for the freedom of leaving self behind and becoming One; "I do" to the endurance of travels and travails throughout our lifetime of faith in partnership with each other; "I do", in the acknowledgement that, like the waves, we do not dwell long individually, but forever enter the deeper mystery of Union; "I do," ultimately, to life, with all of its awes and woes and wonders.
To my darling son and new daughter-in-love: I see you holding hands above Lopez Sound, the brilliance of the afternoon a pale reflection of the glow on your faces, the tears in your eyes, Brett, matching my own. Life is like this: you will never know the joy you gave, as it was hopefully given to you; you will never know the example you set, as it was hopefully set for you; you will never completely understand the love that rippled out from your quiet exchange of vows, love, gentle affection and sweet laughter. What we do know is that it is the Oneness, larger than any two.
"Deep peace of the Flowing Air to you;
Deep peace of the Quiet Earth to you;
Deep peace of the Shining Stars to you;
Deep peace of the Gentle Night to you;
Moon and Stars pour their healing light on you;
Deep peace to you..."
I love you both.
YAY GOD
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