Renewing Hope

During the past 25 years, I’ve officiated at more weddings than I can remember.  Occasionally, when I see some of the pictures of these services on my shelf, I wonder about all those couples and how the hope of those wedding-moments has been transported and supported through the years.

Surprisingly, several months ago, I receive a call from Austin – a man whose wedding I conducted did ten years ago.  I remember it well because we held the service on the beach in the midst of a full-blown hurricane.  No kidding!  We ran out in the storm on a board walk, speed through the vows, and ran back into a restaurant across the street for the reception.

 

Since the beach wedding was literally a wash-out, he wanted to bring the hope of the moment alive again.  He asked me if they could have a redo, only this time with all the bells and whistles they missed before – a wedding renewal.  It was a wonderful request!  So, we held the renewal service last Saturday on the beach in Daytona. 

 

Here is the greatest part - it was all a surprise to his wife, Jena.  He told her they were having anniversary pictures taken on the beach to celebration the union exactly ten-years ago to the day.  He blindfolded her and led her down to the beach.  In contrast to the hurried-caned wedding, this day was beautiful -- a wedding-day-dream. 

The sun was beginning to set on a backdrop of blue sky with just the right amount of dotted with fluffy clouds for texture.   And, at just the right moment, he removed the blind fold and revealed to her a wedding gazebo and chairs filled with all of the guest and family from the original wedding – including me, the officiating pastor!  The tears began to roll down Jena’s face.  Austin had actually done it – recaptured the wedding hopes of a moment ten years before.

 

I don’t know about you, but I find it difficult to maintain the heights of hope and joy from one particular moment to the next.  Hope seems to drift in and out of my live at times leaving me a bit hungry for re-fulfillment.

 

 

 

 

I think soon or latter, everyone finds it hard to maintain these hopeful positions in life.  It’s because the dark clouds of a broken world have a habit of sweeping over us periodically, diluting down our hope -- shifting us away from the light into overcast darkness.

 

This seems especially true for Christians!  We may be people of faith, but we are just as susceptible to the dark clouds that would sweep us away from our relationship with God as anyone! 

 

 

I believe we all long for a sense of hope – maybe a chance to have a do-over – a renewal that actually recaptures the hopes and dreams, like that of a perfect wedding day.

This Sunday in worship, we will explore a renewal that guarantees a hope that doesn’t just drift in and out of our lives.   You can hear all about it as we talk about “Raider’s of the frozen Dark.”