Well-groomed Diplomacy

Well-Groomed Diplomacy

Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.

Romans 12:3

Through the years, I have sung at close to two hundred weddings. From the varied experiences at those events, I have concluded that there are few things in life more stressful than weddings. Parents are nervous, brides are nervous, grooms are practically hysterical, and the entire wedding party is typically on edge.

I remember one wedding where the groom was so nervous that he fainted three different times during the wedding. Each time, the minister revived him, helped him to his feet, and continued the ceremony. They finally managed to get through the I-dos, but it was no small chore.

Another time, we began singing the bride’s entrance song, but she did not come in. We sang through the song three or four times, but still no bride. Finally, the minister came down off the podium, walked out the back door of the church, and personally escorted the bride down the aisle. She was just not paying attention and had not realized it was time for her to enter. Duh!

One groom actually managed to retain his diplomacy, though, in the midst of all the hurry and tension of the ceremony and the departure for the honeymoon.

Finally seated in the car that was to take them to the train station, the bride asked if he had remembered the tickets. He reached into his pocket and pulled out . . . one ticket. Remembering his flustered state of mind when he had gone to purchase the tickets, he hurriedly gathered his thoughts and said, “Dear me. Look, only one ticket. You see, darling, I was so focused on you that I forgot all about myself.”

Nice catch!

My Father, I want to be humble in your sight, not proud and arrogant. Help me to stay focused on you, and that will surely remind me to forget about myself. Amen.