No Sense

The killing of innocent people yesterday in Newtown, CT is such a tragedy.  We are all saddened, aghast and shocked that someone could so coldly go into a school with small children and take out as many people as he wanted.
What have we created as a people?

I don't wish to know all the details.  I turned off my TV and won't read the paper.  My worship community is having prayers for the victims and their families today and I will be home in the quiet and pray.  It is unfathomable that the Spirit that lives within us all would allow this to happen.  This is where our humanity and divinity splits.  We can't see the big picture and we couldn't understand it if it was spelled out to us.  As humans, we can only grieve and pray.  We can hold our loved ones closer, add a little joy to others lives by some random act of kindness or just be still and know.

I am wont to go off into political rampages about guns.  We have amendments and all of that.  Mental illness?  More amendments.  I know we are not that tightly wrapped.  Present company included. 

Light a candle in your home today for the kids, the teachers and the community of Newtown, CT.  It's a beautiful place. An idyllic New England town, right out of a Norman Rockwell painting. My cousin lived there for many years and taught in that school.  I know her heart is very heavy carrying around the pictures of the bright shiny faces and the ones that she taught with.  It's legacy has forever changed.

The Trifecta

Well, Superstorm Sandy came through our area in October, bringing with her destruction and pain.  All of Long Island, New Jersey and parts of Connecticut were touched by her wrath.  Our beautiful Fire Island was so damaged!  I feel for the wildlife that was just washed away.  The different communities of litle cottages to mini mansions haven't see this much destruction since the Hurricane of 1938!

My friends have lost everything.  Photos, family treasures, clothing and refrigerators!  Gone in a matter of hours.  We were lucky in only losing power for a few hours.  Other family members were without power for almost 2 weeks. 

We are intact!  Maybe a little frayed around the edges.  My friend, Craig, who lost his whole first floor, calls it his "Bad Boy Scout Camping Trip."  But he has kept his sense of humor! 

As we look towards the end of 2012, it's been a doozie.  Good Bye, Good Riddance and don't come back!  To those who are still living in hotels, not able to get into their homes for the holidays, bring them a little cheer.  Send a card to a soldier.  Keep your loved ones nearby.  Give a smile to a stranger in the grocery store.

The Trifecta is simple:  We need to take care of our physical, spiritual and mental health.  When one is compromised, all are in peril.  Keep the Faith, all!  Have a Blessed time with all the people you love this holiday season and keep each other in your prayers.  They'll do the same for you.

"The Same Love, Same Rights"

It's mid-July and it's been hot and sticky. I am not a fan of air conditioning(that sounded funny to me) but we've had it cranking in our house for the last week. I must admit, it's not freezing and takes the humidity out of the air. The couches don't turn blue from the mold and it's cozy to sleep at night. I'm venturing into the City on Saturday for a GLBT Bridal Expo at The City Winery down on Varick Street. It's going to be a happening, I am sure. Can't wait to see how Joyful Journey Ministry is received. At the other expos I've done, I get a sidewise glance as couples rush past my table to check out the gazillion of photographers that attend. And there's the free food! Bags of giveaways! Lovely models of dresses and tuxes! I am going to love it, to be sure. The Rainbow Wedding Network is putting this on with the slogan "The Same Love, Same Rights." Yes and yes some more! The slogan on my business cards reads "There Is Only Love." As that famous English group crooned "Love is all you need." Come by and visit if you're in the City. It's 1-4 and I'll be there all day-having a lot of fun and spreading the love.

It's a Wonderful Life

It's been quite a month or two! I've been in a wedding frenzy, helping couples ploan their ceremonies, making sure all the names are correct, the readings are perfect for each couple and having the licenses signed, sealed and delivered after the festivities are over. I take this job seriously-it is a ministry, a call for service that my Divine Creator asks me to perform. I was reminded that I worked hard to be where I am in this lifetime. It doesn't come naturally to me to have a microphone in my hand but I love, love, love to marry couples! I had no idea that, two short years ago, I would be doing this. I went to Seminary to learn about world religions, something I was always interested in exploring. In High School, I had a great religion teacher who gave us smatterings of existentialism and Sartre. It led me to philosophy and the great teachers that gave us the basis for all thinking. A marriage of those two gave me the inquisitive mind to go further. Now, years later, I am "preaching" mindfulness to my brides as they come down the aisle. I whisper "Just breathe-be in your body and just be here". I make eye contact and we breathe together. The ceremony begins when we are present-all three of us. The crowd behind them becomes a blur and we're off! Besides having the privilege of being a wedding officiant, I also offer baby blessings. In May, I offered a blessing for a beautiful baby boy, Anderson Jeremiah Millard. His mommy, Birgitta, is a dear friend and we had fun doing it up big for this bundle of joy. Each guest was given a sand dollar. They wrote their name and a wish for Anderson on them. During the ceremony, we strung all the shells together and they will hold a special place in the baby's room. As he grows, the spirit of each person will strengthen Anderson and give him comfort. As a species, we are hard-wired for joy! How wonderful it is to be alive and know that we are all part of a Divinity who knows us, up and down, in and out! All love during this month of weddings, graduations, special days for all kinds of fathers!

Season of Love

It's the season! The birds are running around building their nests. The geese and swans in my backyard lake have been all a-honking and racing around protecting their eggs. I love this season of plenty and growth.

The brides and grooms are finding me and I'm thrilled to have June almost fully booked! I am officiating for two brides, also, who will be tying the knot in a venue in Brooklyn. Road trip back to where I spent my first 6 months of marriage way back in the 70's. I love to see all this love in the air. Young couples or mature folks who finally found their life-long mate--it's an exciting time.

When I first meet a couple that have asked me to marry them, it is magical. Their shyness wears off after a few minutes. We talk, I get to hear about how they met and how their love started to spark. Who wouldn't love this job? If you can call it a "job"? I call it a privilege, an honor, to be able to be with two people as they publicly proclaim their love and devotion to each other. And to legally officiate is just the icing on the cake.

I am also offering a "short-ceremony" wedding for elopements and those couples who want to have the ceremony and dinner at some of the local restaurants in my area.
You can contact me--my geese and swans will be your witnesses! And maybe a few babies by then.

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE

As the song goes, "Let's Do It, Let's Fall In Love". I found it appropriate this month to blog on Love since February is the Love Month! To me, in the wedding biz, every day is about Love. My motto is "There is Only Love" from a wonderful piece of music I learned at Seminary.

I've been in a frenzy this month with Bridal Showcases, contacting brides and grooms and brides and brides and grooms and grooms about my wonderful ministry. It is a gift to be able to legally send two people out into the world as a married entity. I have so much fun with it. Love meeting them and hearing about how they fell in love. There are many on-line couples that make it to the altar, so you singles out there-hang in! If Spirit wants you to be with someone, they'll make it difficult for you not to meet!

I was just asked to do a wedding in June with a 1940's theme. Wow! My Mom and Dad fell in love in the 40's and we grew up with that music. Cole Porter is in my blood. Dorsey and the rest of the big bands are what I was weaned on. This should be so much fun! Thank you, Amanda!

Love is contagious, don't you think? I know that when I see lovers holding hands, no matter what age, it's a sign of good health. I grab my honey's hand when I can and we are still happily married after almost 42 years. We love having newlyweds living with us-for the second time. Keeps us focused on the years when we couldn't be apart from each other for a minute!

So, dear ones, love each other this month and each day. Keep it alive in your hearts because, as the Beatles say "All You Need is Love".