One of my absolutely favorite authors, Arthur Gordon, wrote a book titled "Wonder, Moments that keep you falling in love with Life". I read this book over and over because it touches my heart in the most amazing ways. I believe it has played a role in shaping my heart and love of life. It also is connected to the beach, and I love, love, love the beach. The sea inspires me and walking in the deep, warm sand, I feel somehow grounded and connected in a way that I don't much feel walking on cement in my running shoes.
Arthur has that love for the beach and sea as well and in one chapter, he writes about his daughter's wedding which was done at the sea, of course. He raised her and took her along on his journey of love and appreciation for the beach and sea and she also grew to have that same passion.
Mr. Gordon wrote that his daughter wanted a more modern facilitator who spoke words that were relevant. She wanted to feel the sand between her toes and wanted to make her wedding day as memorable and personal as possible.
I want to share as Mr. Gordon quotes what the pastor said for that wedding. His words touched me so much, that I quote many of his words in my ceremonies. Here are his words.
"We have been invited to hear Ken and Dana as they promise to face the future together, accepting whatever joy or sadness may lie ahead. These surroundings were not chosen by chance. Those who love the sea can hear it in the heartbeat of Creation as the tides ebb and flow, the sun rises and sets, and the stars come nightly to the sky. For the beauty around us, for the strength it offers, for the peace it brings, we are grateful.
Dana and Ken, nothing is easier than saying words. Nothing is harder than living them day after day. What you promise today must be renewed and re-decided tomorrow and each day that stretches out before you. At the end of this ceremony, legally you will be man and wife, but you still must decide each day that you want to be married.
All of us know that you are deeply in love. But beyond the warmth and glow, the excitement and romance, what is love, really? Real love is caring as much about the welfare and happiness of your marriage partner as about your own. Real love is not possessive or jealous; it is liberating; it sets you free to become your best self. Real love is not total absorption in each other; it is looking outward in the same direction - together.
Love makes burdens lighter, because you divide them. It makes joys more intense, because you share them. It makes you stronger, so that you can reach out and become involved with life in ways you dared not risk alone".
Does that not touch your heart in places you have never felt before? I love his words and my heart applies them to my marriage and those I marry, but also, to a love and commitment to love people in general. Love does all the things he said it does in all our relationships.
As he said, we can say we love others, which is easy to do. The hard part comes in living those words. In fact, every day we truly must re-decide to love and care about those around us. Loving is not automatic. To love is a choice put into action. Love is not crippling by being filled with jealousy, nor possessive, nor total absorption in another. Real love should lift us to our best selves and set us free to soar to new places that we never dreamed of. The tough times are not so tough because we share the load and the joys are more brilliant because have that special person to share them with. There is no down side to love. Love elevates us and life itself. When we are filled with love, all we can see is love. When we look at life and the world through love tinted glasses, it is amazing what we see.
I have read that book and these words many times and my heart swells with love every time. Read it over a few times and look deep into your heart and feel what those words say to you. If you have relationships that have not been where they should be, picture them in you mind's eye with the words of that pastor. Let those words touch and change you. Let them melt the ice or coldness that may have formed on your relationship. If you do not have a struggling relationship, let his words open your heart to love new people, people you cross paths with in your daily walk. Love the sales person, clerk, bank teller. Love those you serve and those who serve you.
Love is a gift from God. Love is the most wonderful, beautiful and life changing gift we can give or receive. Remember, we love because He first loved us.
Today is a new day. Make that decision to love today, the re-decide to love tomorrow and the next day and the next day. Love thought of as something that just happens every day may just get clouded over by life and things that don't quite go the way we want to. Burdens may feel heavier and joys less exciting. Re-decide to love your spouse, your family , your friends, your hairdresser or mailcarrier. Re-decide today to love the person who just cut you off in traffic. Maybe, we need to re-decide to even love ourselves. Maybe we need to even re-decide to love our Lord today. We can say we love all these people, but words are easy. Living them is hard.
Re-decide to love somebody today. Re-decide to love everybody and you will be amazed at how your world changes.