And over all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. The peace of Christ must control your hearts—a peace into which you were called in one body. And be thankful people. The word of Christ must live in you richly. Teach and warn each other with all wisdom by singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing to God with gratitude in your hearts. – Colossians 3:14-16

I had not planned on either taking photographs or writing about Saturday’s wedding at HMPC, I was just going to be there to quietly enjoy it with Rebekah. But then something about the light in the reception venue demanded a photograph. And then something about the sweet, sweet spirit in the place called for an explanation.

Andrea Drake – who married Johnathan Olanin in a beautiful ceremony at Howard Memorial – has been working with our church as youth director for the past three years – along with teaching exceptional education students right here in Tarboro… oh, and working in a pizza joint in Farmville.

Andrea is incredibly enthusiastic about everything she becomes involved in and the congregation have really been pulling for her in all of her endeavors. The youth, her work with special needs children, her travels and adventures, pursuing her master’s degree in Christian Education… and then – when she and Johnathan found each other – this next stage of her life.

So there were a lot of people from our church showing support along with her extensive family. Then we all made our way to the Power House event center at Rocky Mount Mills and Andrea’s flat-out enthusiasm – plus all the remarkable folk from Howard Memorial Presbyterian Church – began to take over the place.

That was when the light caught my eye, during the newlyweds’ first dance, and it was like one of those moments people try to make up, but this time it was real. When Johnathan picked her up and they twirled around and the room held its breath because we all believe so deeply, and we know what love is, and we all wanted this for her.

You can see it in the video, too, and I guarantee it will make you smile.

After that (and my tender heart gets smashed so easily) I had to try to hold back the tears when Andrea danced with her dad, because I found myself thinking about dancing with Naomi at her wedding almost 20 years ago and I feel her pain and her disappointment so deeply.

But love isn’t something that is just there waiting to be caught up in, or even vaguely easy, or the slightest bit possible to manage… all we can do is to feed our love so much kindness, and commitment, and faithfulness, and selflessness and – always – invite God into the heart of our relationships because everything is pretty much impossible if we are not following Jesus.

God’s kind of love is just so powerful and so healing and so loaded with light and mercy that tomorrow is always full with possibility, with such grace and enough love to share around.

And so I pray peace, and patience, and belief, and all the kindness in the world to everyone who is broken and hurting. And I pray joy and more love to Andrea and Johnathan.

As Jesus would put it: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives – do not let your heart be troubled” (John 14:27)…

Seriously, if you are hurting, let Jesus take this. – DEREK