Wedding Gift for Guests

But the ark was enough, is enough.  Because the ark is wherever human beings come together as human beings in such a way that the differences  between them stop being barriers--the way if people meet at the wedding, say, of someone they both love, all the differences of age between them, all the real and imagined differences of color, of wealth, of education, no longer divide them but become for each a source of strength and delight, and although they may go right on looking at each other as very odd fish indeed, it becomes an oddness to gladden the heart, and there is no shyness anymore, no awkwardness or fear of each other.  …..Frederick Buechner, in "Secrets in the Dark."  p. 48
Just six days ago I experienced the gift Buechner is describing in his book of sermons so much more beautifully than I could. It seems worth sharing.  Just for fun, I'm including a photo of Kate cutting her brother's birthday cake  at the home of  Jeff's parents the day before her wedding.  You see Jeff''s niece and sister and James with Kate.