The Wonder and Mystery of Marriage

They married on the one year anniversary date of the day they met, May 1, 2015. They planned the simple, yet richly meaningful celebration with high efficiency, low stress, and much happiness–in just 29 days. Polly had waited a long time for Mr. Right, as had Chris for her, and when she proposed to him in early April, they began planning immediately.

I woke on their wedding day to rain that had tapered off enough by mid-morning that Chris sent an email saying the wedding would take place on Raven’s Roost Lookout on the Blue Ridge Parkway at 2:30 pm, as opposed to Plan B, on the huge porch of their secluded home. The day remained overcast and humid as we approached the Parkway and we could see fog covering the mountaintops ahead.

When we ascended the mountain, the fog slowly dissipated as we drove the seven miles to Raven’s Roost. There, as we waited for everyone to arrive, the fog continued to disappear. By the time Polly and Chris arrived several minutes later, sunshine had replaced the fog with warmth, light, and a lovely deep blue sky with puffy white clouds.

The sunshine also brought a warming to my heart that swelled into a belief that the universe was gifting us all with a loving affirmation for Polly and Chris’ union. I also felt we were not only graced by the presence of our Creator, but also in the presence of beloved family spirits who had left us long before this day.

The hand-written ceremony was delivered by long-time friend Anne Tallent, Polly and Chris exchanged their personal heart-felt vows, the ceremony concluded, and the newly married couple kissed. Joy surged in all our hearts with the wonder and mystery that brought them to this day.

In the heavens above, our mountaintop must have appeared to suddenly burst with tiny dancing lights as cameras clicked while we all basked in our joy.

When the photos were completed, we all prepared to leave just as the second numinous moment arrived. We were bending into our cars to begin the drive to the reception, when the sun began to fade and the sky transformed back to gray clouds. When we reached the bottom of the mountain, sprinkles of rain arrived and stayed the rest of the day.

Meanwhile, we all—the wedding party and guests—gathered happily inside the reception restaurant and enjoyed a lovely afternoon in everyone’s company. At one point, as I sat quietly for some minutes and gazed at Polly and Chris, his family, their friends, and listened to the joy, happy conversation, laughter, and other expressions of love, I remembered back to our earlier time on the mountain. I recalled the warm sunshine, the cottony clouds, and the joy and mystery of those moments when the small, sacred window of sunshine had opened just long enough to gift Polly and Chris time for their ceremony, pictures, brief lingering, and then closed, their embrace by the universe in joyous celebration.

My heart filled with gratitude for the grace bestowed on the two and on all of us. Bless you always, dearest Polly and Chris.