A Sexton and a Vicar

My best friend, Chris, was a seminary student at Lutheran Theological Seminary of Philadelphia. We meet when we were forced to call Key West home for the summer. Chris, seeking ordination in the ELCA, was sent off to St. Paul Lutheran Church in Arlington, Massachusetts to fulfill her one year internship requirement for ordination. It was there that Chris became Vicar CJ. It was also there that she meet the sexton, Mike. You would think that would be it, but nope. The Vicar and sexton became friends and soon feel in love. Of course I left out some details, but I love telling the tale of the Vicar and the Sexton.

Here is my Maid of Honor Speech from their wedding:

There are a lot of beautiful things in this world, like late night strolls down Duval or carving pumpkins with a new friend. We find beauty in picnics on the church lawn and dog walks on the beach in the chill of a winter day. There is beauty in car rides across the country and sparklers on a summer night. It can be as simple as a post-it note memo or waking up to coffee made by your first love. Beauty is realizing you share a favorite color with someone close and the very moment you realized you found your partner. There is beauty in heart to hearts in Home Depot and dancing in the kitchen together while cooking supper. There is beauty in the honesty of conversation and in the care of relationships.

For me, I have found beauty in listening to my best friend explode with emotion over the butterflies in her stomach from Michael, the very man who won her over with a combination white board, bulletin board at the start of internship. The very man she would meet in the sanctuary at eleven on every Thursday for a kiss. The very man that rescued Chris, the vicar, a damsel in distress, from a desert box disaster on Christmas Eve. The very man that has also invited me, and all of us, to be part of their something beautiful.

Michael, thank you for giving my best friend glimpses of beauty in everyday. Thank you for allowing her to see how we all see her, as one of the most beautiful people in the world.

Chris, thank you for the beauty you bring with you wherever you go. It is contagious and welcoming, sincere and never-ending.

Mike and Chris, may you continue to find the beauty in the simple things like making coffee for one another and long walks with Robi. May this beauty continue to be transparent in all that you do. And may we all get glimpses of this beauty through the community you two continue to foster.