|
Dear Suzanne,
Because it’s been such a tumultuous time— with strife, uncertainty, and worry as prevalent as pollen in the spring air, I thought it might be good to share a happy story with you.
Just a couple of weeks ago I went to Dallas to attend my nephew’s wedding. Weddings in and of themselves are joyful occasions, and this one felt even more so for me. The photo is of my hand with the henna tattoo I received at the welcome party. Pretty cool, right?!?
The last of the henna is fading, but the feeling of love and hope remains. The wedding itself, a Hindu ceremony, was particularly rich with metaphor and physical representations of what it means to unite in love that will be tested and must endure life’s inevitable twists, turns, and challenges. One emphasis repeated frequently was that this was a joining together of two individuals AND their families. All of those different people coming together not just for a day of celebration, but a unification through intentional commitment, effort, and care.
In addition to the ceremony, one moment that continues to resonate came during the quiet morning of the wedding. The bride’s father, the groom’s mother, and I reflected on the welcome party and the remarkable diversity of the guests—people from all over the world, of every shape and size, from infants and toddlers to elders in their nineties. The father went on to say, “It was so very joyful, such a wonderful celebration, and there was so much kindness.” He paused and continued, “The world should take note because there was so much kindness, and it was so easy.”
|