In Another World
Here I am, in China,
half way around the world
from home. As I look
at my clock and
calculate the time back home
I realize that half
a world away, people are busy
getting ready for a wedding.
The bride is my niece,
a person I first met
when she was three days old.
I think back to
the first time I had
the opportunity to become acquainted
with my niece. As my sister
cradled her in her arms,
the infant girl clasped
her mother's outstretched finger.
My intuition told me that
her temperament would be
a sunny disposition, a joy
to people around her.
As she grew, the cute
little girl had an infectious
laugh that started as
a small grin, then became
a giggle and grew louder
and louder until it triggered
a response from all the people
around her and they joined in.
As an adolescent, she studied
hard and enjoyed welldeserved
success in secondary school
as she interacted
with her peer group.
After receiving her high
school diploma, she chose
nursing as her career.
From the beginning of
the young couples romance
it was evident that
they were compatible and were
completely intrigued with each other.
The couple had an
engagement party when I
was at home in Canada
a few months ago.
The party was in the form
of a picnic in a beautiful
rose garden. To celebrate
and to toast their future,
we drank champagne. As they
posed under an arch
covered with climbing roses,we snapped
pictures for their photo album.
The couple decided on
a fall wedding. Plans for
the wedding day were activated immediately.
The decisions about the forthcoming event
were shared by the whole family.
A close friend of the family
was contacted and invited
to sing a solo just
prior to the ceremony.
The day before the ceremony,
a rehearsal would take place
so that the remainder of
the details could be
looked after and attended to.
The planning that takes place
beforehand for one of these events
and all the work
that the big day entails,
with many people collaborating
to make the event run smoothly,
are immense. The conscientious attention
to detail will be evident
to the spectators of this event.
I can imagine the excitement
and emotions of the family today.
The time is near.
The ceremony will begin
in 3 short hours.
The bride will be radiant
as she comes down the aisle
escorted by her father.
She will wear her
grandmother's pearls as an accessory.
Her veil will be
the same one as
her cousin wore last year.
As is customary, under her garments
she will wear a blue garter.
As part of the tradition
of Canadian weddings, she will
be wearing something old (the pearls),
something new (her gown),
something borrowed (the veil)
and something blue (the garter).
As the first chords of
the wedding march are played
(a melody familiar to all),
the congregation will rise.
Gasps will be heard
as they catch a glimpse
of the bride in
her gorgeous wedding gown.
The mother of the bride
will calmly view this whole event,
though tears will blur her vision.
She will be overcome
with sentiment at her
daughter's apparent happiness.
The picture will be one
that will embody hope
for the future of humanity. |