Emotional Moments in Chapel Wedding Evangelism
October 10, 2000
This past weekend, Saturday, Sunday and a holiday-Monday, I did the
equivalent of 16 weddings. I say "equivalent" because there were two
orientation sessions during those days, and each orientation takes as much
energy and time as two weddings.
Although there are often words of appreciation on the information
papers the couples fill out after orientation, a very moving incident occurred
last Saturday. Midway through the orientation, at the point where I explain the
meaning of the vows the couple is soon to take, one bride-to-be began to cry.
The tears continued to flow even after the break time as I gave practical
advice on the marriage relationship and returned to my message on the living
God and His wonderful plan for each person's -- and each couple's -- life. I
have seen several young ladies moved to tears previously in orientation
sessions as, I believe, they felt deeply the beauty and meaning of the church
wedding they were hearing described. But this time was especially moving for
me, for it seemed that the girl was so genuinely grateful for what she was
hearing about the "day of her dreams."
It is not unusual, of course, for Mothers to be seen wiping their eyes as that
precious "little girl," or that son, moves up the steps for her or
his wedding ceremony. But I really enjoy seeing fathers get "zapped!"
They struggle so hard to control their emotions because men in Japan are not
supposed to cry. I can't help thinking sometimes, Gotcha! and chuckle within as
I see them trying to cover up what they are feeling.
And the bride -- that lovely young lady in her shimmering, gorgeous (and
expensive!) white dress -- she too is often overcome by the beauty of the moment
she has looked forward to for so long. Often the tears come early, when walking
slowly down the aisle in the gaze of her friends and on the arm of her father
who, most likely, has never shown much affection to his daughter, or during the
first prayer with that solemn, lovely organ background.
On Sunday, however, two unusual incidents occurred. At the moment of the prayer
of blessing, as she and her groom placed their ring hands on the pledge they
had just signed, and as I placed my hand on top of theirs and began to pray,
one bride started to sob. At that moment, it seemed, the atmosphere was so
incredibly beautiful for her that she could no longer contain her feelings.
That same day another bride burst into tears, to my total surprise, during the benediction!
I don't know if she peeked to see my eyes closed and my hands raised to heaven
or not (I put my whole heart into the prayers during the ceremony in order to
try to express the fact that I am actually talking with the God who loves us --
our Heavenly Father), but her emotions overflowed.
These happenings were lovely, to say the least. And then yesterday, the holiday
on Monday, that lovely girl-made-extraordinarily-beautiful by her jewel-tears
at orientation stood on the platform with her groom. She fixed her big, solemn
eyes on me and drank in every word. I knew it was going to happen. The tears
began midway in the ceremony and continued unabated, even through the
presentation of the new couple to the audience, the bow of respect to both sets
of parents, and the exit down the white marble pathway. I tell you, at two
points during the ceremony, seeing that radiant, tear-streaked face, I almost
cried myself! I had to struggle to suppress what was pushing to the surface!
Such happenings are reminders that I must focus only on that one, precious
couple during a day when there are six weddings in a row and the legs begin to
wobble on the fourth or fifth. And I find, again and again, that God helps me
to give to the sixth couple no less in heart-felt, personal words than I gave
to the first two couples.
These happenings also move us to ask God that the beauty of the occasion, which
is, we truly believe, the very touch of God Himself, will draw the couple, and
their family, and their friends, into the most beautiful of all experiences,
the realization of the Living Savior in their hearts and lives. We continue in
sowing the seeds and looking toward that result.
Doyle C. Book