This past weekend I officiated at a wedding.
The groom is from the United States.
The bride is from Ecuador.
So far. So good.
Then this.
The father of the groom is Sri Lankan.
The mother of the groom is Danish.
The guests at the wedding represented seventeen nationalities or cultures.
Canada.
Colombia.
Uruguay.
Venezuela.
Mexico.
Uganda.
Zambia.
France.
The Ivory Coast.
Germany.
Denmark.
Palestine.
Syria.
India.
Sri Lanka.
United States.
Ecuador.
In addition to those seventeen, guests travelled from Egypt, Pakistan and the Democratic Republic of Congo to be at the wedding.
The world under one tent.
To celebrate two people, from very different parts of the world, who met, fell in love, decided to get married and to step towards the future together.
When I was growing up Catholics didn’t marry Protestants.
Irish Catholics were discouraged from marrying Italian Catholics.
Jews did not marry Christians.
Christians didn’t marry Muslims.
Blacks didn’t marry whites.
Whites didn’t marry blacks.
And, someone from the United States didn’t marry someone from Ecuador.
Two very different snapshots of the world.
Which world do you prefer?
John G Flynn says
June 5, 2018 at 6:28 pmWe are all made in the image & likeness
Of “GOD”……I’m glad they found you to bring them together
John G Flynn says
June 5, 2018 at 6:35 pmPs I prefer peace on earth & good will to all man & woman kind
Linda Ruth Burpee says
June 5, 2018 at 11:35 pmWhat a beautiful picture you painted – and they created!
Hopefully our future!
Ivonne Hidalgo says
June 19, 2018 at 6:52 pmDear Paul. I´m Belén´s mom. Thank you for the ceremony. We all felt so united and happy being eyewitnesses of the magical union of Zaki and Belén. They are very blessed having a person like you close to them. Hope you can come again to Ecuador and visit our beautiful country.
Paul Alcorn says
June 20, 2018 at 10:28 amIt was a wonderful wedding and a privilege to be a part of it. And, to be welcomed so warmly by you and your family. My son also lives in Washington DC and so I hope to be able to see Belen and Zaki when I visit. And, I do hope one day to return to Ecuador. It is beautiful. Enjoy having another son in the circle of your family.