Prayer at a Wedding

O Heavenly King, O Comforter,
the Spirit of Truth, who is
everywhere present & fills all
things — come & abide in us.

Let these beloved dance
into your garden kingdom—

Let them be struck by a summer
afternoon, go blueberry
picking and forget about
their calendars.

May they know the peace
that passes planning —

Tomorrow, let each one’s sleepy eyes
open to see that vagrant
they must become the home for.

Let them be poor, and hungry, and tired
Let them be as Christ to one another

May each haul the other
to the verge of themselves,
and stare back long enough
to become unfamiliar.

Give them time to peel
away their scabbed masks,
to be raw in the presence.

May they touch each others’ wounds and not flinch.
May they stand before each other with arms outstretched.

Let each take up the other like a cross.

Let them be overwhelmed with children,
being childlike themselves,
as even the old are new to their bewilderment.

May the wild world humble them,
harried, to each others’ arms.

May each in the other find
that curious journey whose
endlessness is You—

Be among them.
Each day, fill the sea. Inspire the sky.
Haunt them from behind each others’ eyes.

In the name of the Father, & of the Son, & of the Holy Spirit. Amen.