Sunshine

This afternoon Rog and I are marrying a young college couple who are eloping (although their parents know) and want to exchange vows in Sedona before the semester ends and they transfer down to Arizona State University in Phoenix.

We are one of the few husband and wife teams of non-denominational ordained ministers. Together we serve as celebrants and marry folks couple-to-couple; we think there’s something very special about that. We bring our joy, love, and memories of our own wedding when we serve as the celebrants for a couple’s special day.

We always enjoy and have fun getting to know a couple and helping them clarify and write their promises to one another. There’s also a myriad of other items on the list that we can often help with in order to have the wedding day flow with ease and grace. We feel that we are truly of service as the couple embarks on this new adventure in life as husband and wife.

Of course, the idea for today’s ceremony was to be outdoors and view the magnificent vistas of Red Rock Country. Thing is, although it’s just about May, the weather has been rainy, cloudy, windy, with temps in the 50’s - brrrrr! And the same is forecasted for today - not quite what we were hoping for on this special occasion.

But I know I can pray for sunshine to prevail... After all, it’s only for about a half-hour; surely Spirit can manage that, yes?

More importantly, I know that the Sunlight of the Spirit will be with us regardless of what is going on in the external world of form. God warms our souls all the time with Its love, peace, and joy.

So as we celebrate a young couple's union into a formal holy relationship, we also celebrate God. We express gratitude for all the abundance and blessings in our lives, for the sunshine that shows up in a variety of ways.

The Promise

I was poignantly reminded once again that I am not alone and that God is always with me. This time it was through reading of Madeleine L’Engles’ own trying experience and the Bible story that helped her get through that challenge. The story turned out to sound familiar to me despite my not being raised with the Bible.

It’s the amazing story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. These three young men refused to bow down to an idol, and King Nebuchadnezzar was so furious that he ordered them to be thrown into a furnace so hot that the soldiers who threw them in were killed by the heat.

But Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego stood there in the flames, unhurt, and sang a song of praise of all creation.

King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and asked, "Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?" They answered, "True, O King." He replied, "But I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt, and the appearance of the fourth is like the Son of God."

And that, perhaps, is the most astounding part of the whole story. God did not take Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego out of the fiery furnace. God was in the flames with them.

The promise has never been safety, or that bad things would not happen if we were good and virtuous. The promise is only that God is in it with us, no matter what it is.

As I go through my dark times, I can endeavor to remember this Bible story and choose to believe the promise: God is with me always and sees me through all situations.

At this season of light, may I remember that the Light of God shines in me, through me and around me. God is with me always.

4.5

Today is a particularly significant day in my life.

Thirteen years ago (1996) I moved out of the Big Apple, my home town for my entire life of 41 years. And, four-and-one-half years ago (2005), Rog and I were married – the man I’d been searching for most of my life. Both were very significant events, and perhaps marrying Rog would not have happened if I hadn’t left NYC... although I suspect Spirit would have come up with another way for these twin flames to cross paths in this lifetime.

After so many years of yearning for my soul mate, one might think that our promises to one another would have been lengthy. But when all was said and done in planning our intimate, joyful event, Rog and I chose to speak these brief promises to one another based on A Course in Miracles: I promise to do my best to always see the Light in you. I promise to do my best to be your perfect shelter, where you can be reborn in safety and in peace.

Ahhhh. These promises are suffused with Spirit in their meaning and energy. It’s always wonderful to reread them and think about how I’ve fared in fulfilling my promises to Rog. I think I’ve done quite well (with Holy Spirit helping my ego), even with some of the particularly wild adventures we’ve been in.

Rog is my beloved twin flame so it’s pretty easy to see the Light in him and to be the safe, peaceful, and healing shelter. But I’m just wondering how it would be if I could make and keep this promise to all beings I meet? And, what about every being making it to all other beings?

Wowww. Ahhhh.

Happy 4.5 Wedding Anniversary, my dear Rog. May I continue to do my best to always see the Light in you and to be your perfect shelter, where you can be reborn in safety and in peace.

And, I pray, with God’s help, to apply these promise concepts to all whom I meet on my path.