The Summer of Weddings

It seems like each summer these days is packed full with weddings. It seems to be the confluence of a number of factors.

1. We are at an age where the next generation is getting married so our friends kids, friends of our kids, etc. getting married.
2. One of our ministries is being marital mentors through our church.
3. I am married to a wedding coordinator.

So between Deb and I, we will have about 10 weddings under our belt this summer. It is not a problem and I am not complaining because I love weddings. We always are comparing notes about what went well and what didn't, etc. As a wedding coordinator, Deb works very hard to make sure the wedding goes without a hitch. Yesterday was the first time that I actually was both an attendee at the wedding as Deb coordinated it as well.

Weddings can be very informal - yesterday was in a barn in Geauga County. Or it can be very formal and buttoned up. To me, what makes the wedding special is not the venue or the food, but the vows. The vows are everything and we tend to downplay them. I took my vows very seriously and that is why at my own wedding over 30 years ago, I almost backed out (for the second time I might add). A vow is a lifetime covenant in front of witnesses in God. That should be a serious matter for all of us. Marriage is the human symbolism of Christ's relationship with the church. Christ's relationship with the church is permanent as the marriage should be.

But honoring a covenant is a marvelous thing. When our marriage was hanging on by a thread, the covenant before God was honored by us and then a work began in each of us supernaturally. I believe that God even works in marriage through those who do not profess faith in Christ if they treat the covenant in the same way. It is one of those "common grace" items because marriage is a spiritual institution. From time to time I replay those vows I made 31 years ago to remind me of that covenant. I have a ring on my finger that reminds me of that covenant I made 31 years ago.

Deb reminded me yesterday that ours was a morning wedding like the one we attended yesterday. I completely forgot that fact and the weddings come and go, but vows are forever.