Of Secular and Religious Ceremonies

I have been forcibly made aware of something I've probably been subconsciously aware of for some time now. I am no longer my little sister's go to guy for problem solving. Had Dad been alive I'd likely never have been that, but I was once upon a time.  As the years have passed between us so has the distance grown. Though the familial love is still there and strong, the connection has been growing ever dimmer as she's grown closer to her new husband. That is what brought this realisation to the fore, seeing her in her wedding dress, glowing with pride and looking for all the world as if she was about to outshine the sun.

I think I may have felt what is is father's feel when they give away their daughter's on the wedding days. That now she will turn to the man closest to her for the support she needs when times are hard. That only when it gets difficult between the two of them will i be called into service once more. Frankly I hope that never happens.  I hope she never requires my trouble removal services again. If no tears are shed whilst on the phone to me I will be happy. Not because it will mean I don't have to deal with her problems, but because it will mean that she doesn't need me to. She has her husband to help her now, to give her strength when she needs it. But what a day to figure that out for myself. What a day indeed.

There were three components to it, the ceremony itself, the reception and the party. two parts of it were organised by someone who can only be described as the kind of friend you want but are lucky to meet in your lifetime. Her love for my sister matches mine and she showed it by micromanaging everything about the wedding down to the hair for everyone who'd be on the front lines. (Except mine. She wasn't allowed anywhere near that.) She ensured my sister had the wedding she'd dreamed of. And I cannot thank her enough.  The party was the grooms Mother's doing and it was also pretty darned solid. So she has had much thanks to boot.

The next day was another ceremony, this one rather different, rather more long-winded than the wedding ceremony, that concentrated on the law, this concentrated on the dogma. Confirmation at Church, involving me and five other folks getting splashed with water by an amusing Lancashire bishop. Ultimately it was about the Church welcoming me with open arms, but something about it still made me think it was all a bit over the top. Still, people enjoyed it and I did feel a sense of accomplishment afterwards, mind you that could be because I got up and said a little testimony in front of all those people. And no hat at that time... the after event tea drinking session was good too. Mingling with like minded folks and having them feeling awesome for me, plus I gathered a little swag, a rather useful study bible, some ornaments and a book by a fellow called Shane Claiborne. But that book is the subject for another blog at a later time, when it has been consumed and digested in the appropriate fashion...

Signing off.