Something beautiful and right

by Michael Aaron in Michael Aaron | 0 comments

Sometimes it takes just sitting at a wedding ceremony, watching two people profess their love to a crowd of friends and family, to remind you what may be right in this world.

As many, including myself, who had spent the night with their eyes glued to news reports of a catastrophe halfway across the globe, two men were fretting details about their big day only hours away. On that day, they would stand before hundreds of people — their parents, their fellow churchgoers, their close friends and their god — and perform a ritual similar to those done for hundreds of years by others before them. During that ritual, they would make promises to each other, among which, to do everything in their power to make their relationship work.

And, while this particular ceremony was full of pomp — a choir, a quintet, two reverends and ancient rituals — it was the most minute of things that made me choke back a bit of emotion — a father’s supportive hand placed on the small of his son’s back as he married the man he loved, the terrified face of a daughter processing down the aisle, glances between teenage boys as they watched two men kiss in public, a sibling brushing a tear from her face.

Yes, the ceremony was grand. Easily the most grand I’ve attended. Having a choir sing softly during words from the minister and the couple’s vows to one another, followed by a rousing Alleluia Fanfare was, I’m sure, designed to strum the heart chords. And it did.

While some may say the ceremony was controversial, none in that chapel were pondering such things. Most likely had walked out wondering about the normalcy of the event.

And as the couple stressed about the tiny details of the day, the precise moments and the perfect words, it is only they who may remember all of that. Those watching will remember the grandiosity, the minutia and the emotion of the day.

But those in attendance will also remember that something right and good happened that day. Even on a day that will be remembered in history by the rest of the world as the day thousands were affected by a tragic earthquake, and millions watched as technicians worked tirelessly in an attempt to avoid a nuclear catastrophe. Even on a day when the world fears a worsening economy because of rising gasoline prices, political uprisings and continuing wars.

On this day, something simple, beautiful and right happened and I was among those lucky enough to see it happen.

Congratulations to Manuel and Kamrin on their big day. And congratulations to those who were also lucky enough to see it happen.