When love finds you

image courtesy of photobucket.com

Despite the tradition of the groom not seeing the bride in her gown before the wedding, he has seen her already.

In the interest of time, the couple decided to get the wedding party pictures taken before the ceremony.

Still, when the doors opened and her father walked her down the aisle, his jaw dropped, his eyes lit up, and even though I did not know this man, (I had shaken his hand for the first time just 24 hour prior) the look on his face told me all I needed to know. This man was utterly and completely in love. I can’t say for sure this was the best day of his life, but judging from that face, I would be willing to bet it made the top three. If he was nervous, it didn’t show. He looked as if he was exactly where he wanted to be.

Sitting on the bride’s side, I only caught a brief glimpse of her before they turned and faced the minister, but the discreet passing of a tissue from maid of honor to bride and the cracking of the bride’s voice told me she was overcome with emotion. A princess whose knight in shining armor had finally arrived.

His face I could see. The smile never left his lips. In a church full of family and friends, in those moments she was the only one who mattered.

What I witnessed Saturday was only the beginning of what I hope will be a lifelong love affair. I pray they remember this day when things aren’t so perfect, because anyone who’s been in love will tell you there will be many imperfect days, but the perfect days–even the perfect moments–are so worth it.

I know I’ve posted the following passage before, so I hope you don’t mind me sharing it again. It’s one of my favorites:

Then said Almitra, Speak to us of Love.

And he raised his head and looked upon the people, and there fell a stillness upon them. And with a great voice he said:

When love beckons to you, follow him,

Though his ways are hard and steep.

And when his wings enfold you yield to him,

Though the sword hidden among his pinions may wound you,

And when he speaks to you believe in him,

Though his voice may shatter your dreams as the north wind lays waste the garden.

For even as love crowns you so shall he crucify you. Even as he is for your growth so is he for your pruning.

Even as he ascends to your height and caresses your tenderest branches that quiver in the sun,

So shall he descend to your roots and shake them in the their clinging to the earth.

Like sheaves of corn he gathers you unto himself.

He threshes you to make you naked.
He sifts you to free you from your husks.
He grinds you to whiteness.
He kneads you until you are pliant;

And he assigns you to his sacred fire, that you may become sacred bread for God’s sacred feast.

All these things shall love do unto you that you may know the secrets of your heart, and in that knowledge become a fragment of Life’s heart.

But if in your fear you would seek only love’s peace and love’s pleasure,

Then it is better for you that you cover your nakedness and pass out of love’s threshing-floor,

Into the seasonless world where you shall laugh, but not all of your laughter, and weep, but not all of your tears.

Love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself.

Love possesses not nor would it be possessed;

For love is sufficient unto love.

When you love you should not say, “God is in my heart,” but rather, “I am in the heart of God.”

And think not you can direct the course of love, for love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.

Love has no other desire but to fulfill itself.

But if you love and must needs have desires, let these be your desires:

To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night.

To know the pain of too much tenderness.
Or to be wounded by your own understanding of love;
And to bleed willingly and joyfully.

To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving;

To rest at the noon hour and meditate love’s ecstasy;

To return home at eventide with gratitude;

And then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart and a song of praise upon your lips.

~ Kahlil Gibran
January 6, 1883 – April 10, 1931

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