Dancing In the Rain
Over the Memorial Day weekend, I was the officiant at the wedding of the daughter of two of my quarters (Rod and Jacque Coyan). My part was short – to the point – with “humor and just the right amount of seriousness”, as I was told after the ceremony by a person I had never met.
From the rooftop of a hotel, located in the middle of the city, to the open fields of my friend’s father’s farm, was a 20-minute ride in a limo. The cocktail hour was full of laughter and handshakes and hugs from people that I knew who had attended the wedding. The dinner was great, not just chicken, but a choice of salmon and beef. Then came the after-dinner speeches. The brother of the groom, who had never addressed a crowd that numbered nearly 250 souls, if not more, did a great job. The parents and the maid of honor all hit home runs. The music started and about an hour afterwards the wind started picking up. If you’ve ever lived in the high plains, you know you can see a storm coming.
The wedding and the storm were going to meet … head-on.
The rain came down and the wind blew. A beautiful day was now at the will of the storm. I sat back and wondered how the bride would react. I thought I knew who she was. I wanted to see if I was right or wrong. This wedding balanced on her reaction to the turn in the weather.
We control so much of our life with how we react to each situation as it arises.
We react one way and our life goes down that path. We react another way and our life takes a totally different tract. Yes, one moment can change your life and the way you live the rest of your life. The important thing to know is “who you are”. If you stay with that mindset in your decision-making, then you control what you are able to control.
The bride is a powerful young lady. Full of positive energy. She is a glass-half-full person, with a pitcher in her hand to fill that glass all the way up any time she wants. Her new husband is similar in his outlook, but is different in his … “volume”.
The happy couple was getting pictures done at the photo booth, that they had provided for their guests. I watched as she walked out from the covered patio where the booth was, towards the crowded dance floor under the tent that was crowded with the wedding guests.
She had two choices … two paths … 1). Collapse into a ball and cry about ‘how the weather ruined her wedding’ OR 2). Dance in the rain.
I was about to see if the way I perceived I had always perceived the bride was how she actually was, or if that was all a façade. Life has a way of showing people for who they truly are … this was her moment.
