Go Ye Therefore

The outdoor wedding was spectacular, in the setting of a botanical garden. Flowers, fountains, trees, arbors, butterflies.... Since the magnificent sun was setting behind the couple, we were all burning our retinas out watching the ceremony. The bride looked like an angel with a corona. This really was a story of a princess finally getting the prince, after a bunch of toads. Knowing that history, as I watched her come down the aisle, the once a year application of my mascara was smeary history.

Meanwhile, at home we had left Matt and wife Karissa with Asherel in charge of finishing all left overs, since we leave this morning for our beach week. I don't know how the frozen bottle of "peach beer" I found in the refrigerator this morning plays into their evening, but I am anxious to hear that tale. Dear son Matt and Karissa head off this morning to their summer law internships in Dallas Texas, while we head to Hilton Head. I wish we were all heading off to the same destination, but alas, that is the story of mothers, to pat their little chicks on the head, stuff some money in their beaks, and watch them fly away. At least one little chick will still go brave the sharks with us on our family vacation.

The verse "go ye therefore" keeps running through my head. It is an important phrase and expresses a lot of what I am feeling this morning.
GO- we are not meant to be motionless and impotent in this world. We are to move and the direction we move should be purpose driven. It is an imperative command, with a sense of urgency and immediacy.
YE- the command is not to everyone else. It is to me, and to you.
THEREFORE- this word makes it clear that the command is based on a whole knowledge that has preceded the command. Given what we know and Who we know has spoken, with all that has gone before, we THEREFORE obey.

Each day is a promise, an adventure. Each day is like my dear friend Andi, shimmering in her halo of light as she marched down the aisle to a place she had longed to walk her entire adult life. There is a happily ever after, I believe, for all of us. I think we all have visions of a resplendent garden that we were not sure was ever to open its perfumed air for us. And because we hear a call to "Go ye therefore", we ought to move forward to an altar that is filled with the glory of the One calling us there.

Matthew 28: 16-20
Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

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