Monday I had the privilege of officiating over the wedding vows of a wonderful couple in a marvelous setting. Sculpture Park in Seattle provides a walkway along Elliot Bay that is lush with green grass. The sun was bright, the water blue and the mountains were snow capped. It was a beautiful setting for launching a lifetime relationship.
We settled on a spot that had a slight overlook to the bay and was about five feet from the walking trail. I had my back to the water and the couple was facing the water. While I was reading scriptures and speaking prayers and calling for vows, numbers of people were walking by. Almost everyone began smiling once they noticed what we were doing. Several paused and listened in. Some pulled out cameras and took pictures. Others jogged by barely looking up.
Of course the couple was unaware of the movement behind them. I was doing well at maintaining my focus. After all, these friends were wholeheartedly speaking love and commitment to one another. I loved it. But at one strategic point a man walked by with his dog, and can you guess what happened next? Yep, the dog suddenly stopped. The owner pulled on the leash but the dog wouldn’t move. While I’m talking the dog arches his back and dumps.
To his credit the owner had a baggie and quickly cleaned up after his dog. We finished the wedding and I hugged and congratulated the couple without mentioning the dog scenario. The dog wasn’t trying to be offensive or malicious. When you gotta go, you gotta go. However that image has been reappearing in my mind all afternoon.
Everything was perfect. The weather, the scenery and the couple all looked perfect. And then there was the dog. And that’s life, isn’t it? You deliver a great product or provide excellent service and a colleague “dumps” on you. You plan a fun-filled outing for the family and one of the kids is in a mood and “dumps”. You sacrifice and generously provide for someone in need and rather than offering gratitude they “dump”. And sometimes you and I “dump” on others.
By God’s grace we’ll continue to take out the baggie, pick it up and move on down the trail.
We settled on a spot that had a slight overlook to the bay and was about five feet from the walking trail. I had my back to the water and the couple was facing the water. While I was reading scriptures and speaking prayers and calling for vows, numbers of people were walking by. Almost everyone began smiling once they noticed what we were doing. Several paused and listened in. Some pulled out cameras and took pictures. Others jogged by barely looking up.
Of course the couple was unaware of the movement behind them. I was doing well at maintaining my focus. After all, these friends were wholeheartedly speaking love and commitment to one another. I loved it. But at one strategic point a man walked by with his dog, and can you guess what happened next? Yep, the dog suddenly stopped. The owner pulled on the leash but the dog wouldn’t move. While I’m talking the dog arches his back and dumps.
To his credit the owner had a baggie and quickly cleaned up after his dog. We finished the wedding and I hugged and congratulated the couple without mentioning the dog scenario. The dog wasn’t trying to be offensive or malicious. When you gotta go, you gotta go. However that image has been reappearing in my mind all afternoon.
Everything was perfect. The weather, the scenery and the couple all looked perfect. And then there was the dog. And that’s life, isn’t it? You deliver a great product or provide excellent service and a colleague “dumps” on you. You plan a fun-filled outing for the family and one of the kids is in a mood and “dumps”. You sacrifice and generously provide for someone in need and rather than offering gratitude they “dump”. And sometimes you and I “dump” on others.
By God’s grace we’ll continue to take out the baggie, pick it up and move on down the trail.
2 comments:
Heh, thanks for not mentioning that. :)
We sure appreciated your words and there are a few pictures I posted today if you want to look.
Ha ha hah ah hahhah ahaha aa!!
That's funny.
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