At three this afternoon, family will gather in a church in Los Angeles to bear witness to wedding vows exchanged – vows spoken by my son and his beloved. Most of us know the vows and at least some of the prayers and music. Some of us have said them ourselves. There’s nothing particularly unique in any of it. And yet.

Each time two people vow to grow together, to face life as a couple rather than as individuals, to honor the spirit of the other through all the predictable and surprising changes life brings – each time, the world is made new. Life will never be the same because two people stood in front of friends and family (or just a couple of witnesses) and made promises.

There’s no guarantee that those promises can be kept, or that the couple will grow together rather than apart – life brings unforeseen challenges. But life is altered by the exchange of vows and rings, whether they are together until death separates them or until life does.

May God bless the vows said today, and bless the life that comes from them. May they find the strength to choose each other every day – even when that choice is a hard one. May they share their joy and their sadness with others, and be true companions on the journey of a lifetime.

Colin and Adilene, blessings and peace. I am so glad you found each other, and so happy to have you both in my family and life.