If you know me at all, then it shouldn't surprise you to know that the morning of April 29th I was up at 3 am… drinking tea, eating homemade scones (which were exceptional I might add) and watching a royal wedding.
Ahhh, bliss… I was not disappointed. Let's just say that the Queen's, post wedding, one word description of "amazing" was spot on.
Catherine played the role of princess perfectly and, man, did William look like a prince, and, for a brief moment, pure joy reigned not only in Britain but also throughout the world.
Although I am sure that pictures of that day will be continuously compared to past royal weddings, there was something different about this one. I was not alive in 1981 to view the wedding of William's mother and father, but it takes only a few clips to notice that there was something special present today that has been sorely lacking from weddings before. That missing link is, quite simply, love. Not infatuation - love.
In spite of the regalia and pomp and circumstance, one could sense the simplistic, genuine affection. It was subtle… it was intimate… it was real.
In the backdrop of horses and hats and carriages and crowns… there was a man and woman who get it. They know each other. They know themselves. They have seen each other at his/her worst. They have seen each other at his/her best. They have been up. They have been down. They have said, "Ok. Let's do this."
This couple knows the task that lies ahead, and they have decided to tackle it together.
And, in the beauty of this royal union, I couldn't help but think about the symbolism of it all.
The Bishop of London, said in the service, "Every wedding is a royal wedding because every human being is a child of the King."
How right he is. And with that right (available to all of us) comes a weight that, upon acceptance, is ours to carry.
I was incredibly moved by the bride and groom, but I was almost equally as moved by the nation of Britain. They came, in hundreds of thousands, to celebrate the union of their future king. Why? Because the wedding was as much about the kingdom as it was about the couple.
The world had front row seats to the beginning of a legacy. What these two do from now until the day they die will affect the lives of all of Britain and many throughout the world. How this plays out, going forth, is up to them. William and Catherine can waste this union or they can maximize it… tap into it… and make a forever impact. An impact that is made possible by the simple, yet extraordinary fact that he is the son of the future king.
And so, as I sat there, I thought, what a greater impact we can make, as daughters of the one and only, forever was, forever will be King.
In light of our title… in humble awareness of our position as His children… may we view marriage as a union with great, great Glory at stake. May we seek a spouse who knows not only us, but also the weight of the task that lies ahead. May we realize, that marriage (just like everything else) is not about us, but about our Kingdom. May our unions be for the betterment of our calling and may our affections be grounded in our duty and obligation to the Kingdom and King that we serve.
Yet this view seems to run in contrast to our nature. There is, tragically, something about real and raw that scares us. There is something about transparency that seems to detract from the fairy tales that we, in our hearts, so long for and, yet, I couldn't help but see today that real is romantic - sincere is endearing - and a love story built on honesty, trust and transparency is, well… breathtaking.
So my prayer for me and my prayer for you is that our wedding days mark a union that causes the true Kingdom to cheer and that our legacies, as couples, span the reign of that Kingdom, which, in case you need to be reminded is… eternity.
Long live the King.
{Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.} Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
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