The Wedding at Galveston

As you can see, this meditation is not flowing from the jugs of extraordinary wine at the Wedding of Cana; rather from a wedding that has been the focus of months’ long preparation and joy in our lives ~ the wedding of our youngest, Heather and her fiancé now husband Scott. With their permission, I am including it in my meditations. Enjoy . . .

The Ministry of the Word

Mark: 10: 6-9

. . . at the beginning of creation God made them male and female. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one put asunder.

Matthew 7: 21; 24-29

Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.

Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.

But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rains came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.

Will all of you witnessing these promises do all in your power to uphold Heather and Scott in their marriage? If so, say “We will!”

The Message

Five years ago, Scott and Heather met just as they were setting out on a new life. Scott had graduated from the prestigious Berklee School of Music; Heather was graduating from Paul Mitchell Academy with a license in Esthetics and on her way to licensure as medical assistant with the goal of achieving status as a medical esthetician.

Neither had a job, but they looked good on paper. Even though they talked a good show, Scott admitted they were a little lost. Nonetheless, in Heather, Scott saw something that felt real, substantial, and solid. In Scott, Heather saw something that felt real, substantial, and solid.

Obviously, they were blind. They were still lost. They didn’t have jobs.

But they had something new. They had this new relationship that felt like it might become something real, substantial and solid.

Time has passed, five years to be specific, and here they are today about to set out on a new life once again. The difference this time? They are not lost. They have indeed become a team, – real substantial and solid.

When I asked them what scriptures they wanted for today, the first one was from the book of Mark. Let me read it again: . . . at the beginning of creation God made them male and female. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one put asunder. (or in later translations “let no one separate them.”)

Scott explained what prompted him to choose the Mark reading: “For so long, it’s been Heather and Scott, Scott and Heather. We’ve been a team. Today we wanted to stand before all our friends and family and God to promise that we will always be a team, more than a team. We will be one flesh – a forever team. This team will be rock solid, because God’s word is in on the promise.”

Heather and I were impressed.

Scott was essentially drafting the architecture seen in the Matthew reading, sometimes referred to as the story of the wise builder and the foolish builder. We know the story well. Well enough that the analogy is clear. What Scott and Heather have done is give their relationship time to grow, to give themselves time to mature, to establish themselves as free-standing financial units in their respective careers, to run a household, to build a circle of friends and to establish enduring adult relationships with their extended family. What they have been doing, is building a rock solid foundation for what they are about to do here today.

When they exchange their vows in a few minutes, they will be building this new life on a foundation composed not of concrete and rebar, but a foundation they have built over the past five years and sealed with the words of God. Theirs will not be a house haphazardly thrown together, built on sand, always shifting, never strong. They are building a house that will not fall apart when the winds of life pick up. When they do, Heather and Scott will face them as husband and wife, a forever team coached by God. And they will listen to the words God speaks.

And all of you out there, Scott asks that you listen to the words God speaks, “Those whom God has joined together let no one put asunder.” In other words, don’t mess with this marriage. Don’t plant seeds of doubt or place temptation, criticism, or division in the way of the growing, living phenomenon God is building in our midst.

Scott, no worries! We gathered here tonight because we love you and Heather. And just minutes ago we promised in one strong voice to uphold this marriage. We will honor it, respect it, encourage and support it. We are all a part of your cosmic construction crew, building this house side by side with you on the rock solid foundation of the words of God. When the storms come, and they will, “for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health,” – those storms, – your house will not fall. It will stand strong. We will be there, holding up the walls. We promise.

Now, with the words of God ringing in our ears, let’s get those hammers and saws ringing in the night. We got a house to build!
Amen