I arrived in Boston. Tim and Jim were getting married. Tim and I met years before when he came to Santa Fe in search of his spiritual self. Two days before his month-long trip was about to end, he came to a class I was teaching and realized, this was his way and in the next years, he became a kundalini yoga teacher. Once he invited me to come to Boston to teach a yoga workshop. And now he has invited me to attend his wedding in a beautiful old church in downtown Boston.
Tim not only invited me but requested I speak during the ceremony as his ‘spiritual advisor’. My name with this title was listed in the wedding invitation. I did not know exactly what I will do or say, but trusted I will fulfill his request to be his spiritual advisor.
It was a really nice church with hundreds of guests in attendance. I met some of the couple’s friends, all a bit strange like me, but also spiritually lovable. My time arrived to go up the steps to where the microphone was set up. People were genuinely interested and respectful of me being there to offer some sort of spiritual advice. I began speaking about how I knew the couple, and my respect for them, and how their lives were a loving influence for others.
I then spoke to all who gathered it was not enough to come together and feel this love we are all experiencing. I told them it was our task to take these powerful feelings and carry them when they leave the church. Everyone was very quiet as they listened and received this advice. I thanked them for the love they felt in honoring the couple.
Then I invited everyone to join in a yogi chant, a long version of SAT NAM. I explained the meaning and how raising our voices together, will be a spiritual expression of our love for the couple. After a quick example of how the mantra will sound, I asked everyone to join. As I started to chant using the microphone, I was amazed at how beautiful it sounded. I even imagined angels were joining in. The acoustics of the church was wonderful and I wished I could stop to listen to the singing, but I continued to lead the chant, hearing only my own voice amplified through the sound system. I repeated the mantra five times, then invited everyone to listen to the echo of the beautiful mantra. After this, I did a personal prayer for the couple and went back to my seat.
When the service was over and we were speaking about the ceremony, I asked a few of the friends for their feedback on my talk. They said was impressive and welcomed the challenge to take our good feelings into the world. I then asked if anyone chanted the mantra since I could only hear the sound of my own voice. The reply was quick and powerful that everyone chanted after the talk I gave. I smiled and relaxed.
Finally, Tim asked me to come to meet his parents. His mother was open and relaxed and gave a warm thanks for my role. Then his father stood straight and got very quiet to say, he had not accepted his son being gay, but finally decided to come to the wedding. He then thanked me for my words and how much they meant to him. He finished by saying how grateful he was for coming this day and being part of the ceremony. With tears in his eyes, we shook hands.
Sometimes I wonder what I have done to deserve so many remarkable, loving, beautiful moments in my life. And to connect with so many loving people. Tim and Jim and all the people who attended made the wedding ceremony a truly remarkable experience.
Life is not powered by logic. Life is powered by love.
Photo is from a church in downtown Boston. It may or may not be the same one where the story takes place. Too long ago to remember the details. 🙂
