It is wedding season, and this spring I had the privilege of soliciting the artistic talent of my friend, Betsy, to put together a wedding invitation suite for my sister-in-law-to-be, whose marriage to my brother will take place in just a few short weeks. The invitations were printed on enormous sheets of hand-made French paper, folded intricately, and then bound with baker's twine and sealed with wax. They were a dream to work on! A wonderful reprieve from laundry and dishes, I must say, and I do think Jane Austen would have been proud.
I happened to be folding and tying and stuffing and sealing a great many envelopes while William and Catherine were exchanging their nuptials; and although I had to draw a breath when I saw the stunning Miss Middleton, swathed in lace and tulle, float from the lobby of the Goring Hotel into her humming automobile, I was even more swept away by the words of Reverend Richard Chartres, the Bishop of London who - with shining eyes and a great deal of English zest - delivered a most moving wedding sermon.
"In a sense every wedding is a royal wedding," he said, "with the bride and the groom as king and queen of creation, making a new life together so that life can flow through them into the future." He reminded the future king and queen of England that "A spiritual life grows as love finds its centre beyond ourselves," identifying the dangers of living in a world where devotion to romantic love has eclipsed, even replaced, devotion to God. Most people's lives reflect the belief that "personal relations alone will supply meaning and happiness in life;" which, he noted, "is to load our partner with too great a burden."
Instead, by grounding our ideas of love in God as He has revealed Himself in the Person of Jesus Christ, we discover that "the more we give of self, the richer we become in soul; the more we go beyond ourselves in love, the more we become our true selves..."
I couldn't help but agree.
3 comments:
Amazing, Amazing work (actually art), Heather! There is so much love wrapped up in each fold of this paper and each stamp of this seal and tucked into every envelope. Just amazing.
I agree with Sommer!! I also happen to think that we must lead parallel lives! I was just begging God last night for the strength to give all I have to my family and trust God to take care of my needs. A very difficult truth to live out!
Where did you get the french paper to make the invite? It is gorgeous and looks like it folded nicely!
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