August 11 – “The Carrot Blessing”

Well, our New Jersey wedding turned out fine.  The weather, after three days of muggy, hot humid conditions, was beautiful.  Cool and beautiful blue skies.  There was even a nice breeze as we began the ceremony.  The bride’s Dad had really gone all out in his creative preparations for the affair.  Along with the caterers, he hired people to park cars so the event would have that VIP feel.  Some of his ideas were not just funny, but practical as well.  He rented a port-a-potty that he called the VIP restroom.  It had flowers inside and even running water to wash your hands.  Not like any I have ever seen at a construction site.  And to top it off, he set up a red carpet and roped off poles leading up to it.  Now that’s VIP.

Of course that cool breeze blew out the unity candle, so we had to improvise that one.  Ended up doing it after the ceremony with the bride and groom’s mothers cupping their hands around the flames to keep them lit.  Funny thing was, once they got the center candle lit and replaced the two outside ones, all three stayed lit through most of the reception.  Guess they just needed that circle of power from the mothers’ hands to inspire their inner flame. 

I always try to create a personal blessing for the couple based on something I have learned about the bride and groom.  Here’s what I came up with at the last minute for these guys. 

THE CARROT BLESSING

I’ve known Ashley since she was born, but I haven’t had a lot of time to get to know Josh.  So I selected the one thing I have learned about him to be the source of this blessing.  At this point I pulled out one of those fresh carrots you can get from the produce section.  I asked the groom to hold it for me for this part of the ceremony. 

Carrots are one of those strange creations of God that really trick you.  When they are in the ground, all you can see is the green part on top.  And when people see the two of you together, they will often make judgments about what they see.  That’s not important.  Don’t worry about them.
But the substantial part, the part that you can eat, and that nourishes you, and that your Mom always said is good for you, is the part that grows underground.

So in the same way,

May the part of your relationship that is not so easily seen—
the part that really defines who you are as a couple—
the part that connects you in commitment to each other—
the part that reflects God as the ever-present third person of your marriage trinity—
May that part of your relationship be what nourishes you and what is good for you, starting today and continuing on into your future together.  Amen.

I know.  Not your usual marriage blessing.  But the people were very kind to me and didn’t throw rotten tomatoes or anything.  Or maybe they were just shocked to see the groom holding a carrot in one hand and his bride in the other.  Hey.  Bugs Bunny would have been proud. 

Today the plan is to attend church with the Dammeyer family.  Ashley and her brother Allen are going to be leading worship.  Now how’s that for unusual?  The bride is postponing her honeymoon so she can lead worship at church with her brother on the day after her wedding.  I met their pastor at the wedding.  Young kid.  He asked me if I wanted to preach for him today, but I think he was kidding.  Stranger things have happened.  Maybe I should have a sermon in my back pocket just in case.  Or maybe they have had enough of that weird guy from the island off the coast of Texas. 

Psalms 104:24-26 says, “How many are your works, O Lord!  In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.  There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number — living things both large and small.  There the ships go to and fro, and the leviathan, which you formed to frolic there.”

Father, thank you for celebrations and friends and the excitement of new beginnings.  Amen.