The explosion of frivolity and wedding photos brought us to the moment that was the beginning of John and Ruth’s life together. From the first date, they connected through books, contemplation, art, and independent thought. I was blessed to watch the depth of their conviction to each other as joined by the Holy Spirit. The other guests and I had waited years for when the two would bind their loving hearts in a commitment before God.
John and I became friends on an outdoor trip at our undergrad liberal arts school. The mid-fall trip destination was a rainy lake in the southern Olympic Mountains. We each assumed the other was a guide due to mutual preparedness for the Northwest-wetness. Our bond was quick, like our judgements. Soon, we began to take our own outdoor trips including bicycle winery tours, tramping mountain passes knee deep snow, and floating rivers during finals week. We shared a reverence for God in creation. Quiet, contemplation, and humor fueled our bond that lasted beyond school into adulthood.
Although we kept going on adventures, we began to focus on finding a woman with whom to enjoy the adventure of life. John met Ruth at church, and after one date I sensed that this would be The One. Watching the growth between the two was like watching a neighbor’s garden in spring time. Love, time, and attention yielded ever growing vines. Despite my staying single, I took joy in watching the success of John and Ruth’s garden.
When the time came for harvest, and John asked me to be his best man, to which I readily agreed. I had not seen two people share such a grounded-in-faith-love before, and the future truly was theirs to make. The importance was such that I embarked on the two day travel starting with a bus ride from my residence at Holden Village, in the remote Cascade Mountains, to Lake Chelan, for a 45-mile boat ride, 4-hour drive, and 3-hour plane ride to Phoenix for the wedding.
At 118°F, Phoenix in June reminded me of an adobe oven: hot, tanned, and loaded with foods of all sorts. Wedding guests came from around the nation to celebrate the beginning of a new life for John and Ruth. When the wedding day arrived, the bride, groom, and associated parties gathered for glamorous wedding photo memories. After megabytes of photos were recorded, I stepped outside of the wood and adobe Episcopal Cathedral to check my phone in privacy.
In the full summer heat I could not help but wonder that if water is the giver of life, then how did a city start here? Dusty and drier than anywhere I could imagine. A phone call from my mom broke my heat daze. Grandmother Ga was dying and should I want to have any last words, now is the time.
From the hot, waterless cathedral grounds, I called Ga where she was staying at the University House in Seattle. The Mongolian nurse informed me that my grandmother couldn’t respond in her current state but would hear me. In the few gracious minutes before the wedding, I attempted to express my gratitude for a lifelong relationship.
“I love you Ga, I loved visiting you and HoHo (her husband), talking about trips, going camping, and reliving the old times. Thanks for being a great grandmother. I’ll miss you, Ga.”
With the wedding hour at hand, I clasped my flip-phone and watery eyes shut. The heat immediately dried them, like the life of Ga. For the next hour, I stood as the best man in at wedding of my best friend. Love knows no bounds, for family or friends. While part of my family returned to dust, John committed to a Ruth so as to start a new family.
A Phoenix of love rising from the deathly desert heat, giving hope that Love is the final answer.
Photo Credit: Flickr/Robert Kintner
What a beautiful story. Thank you for sharing