This weekend was a wonderful celebration for the extended Beams family.  On Saturday our own Sarah Olson and Trevor Malkinson tied the knot.  Bruce Sanguin presided at the ceremony while Scott as best man and Juma as MC gave moving speeches.  Chris used the Voice Dialogue process to invite us into the voice of Blessing and to offer that blessing to Trevor and Sarah for the pre-meal invocation (perhaps a first in history).  Brs. TJ and Andrew (a groomsman) as well as contributors Rhian Walker and Olen Gunnlaugson were also in the house.  It was a most beautiful gathering.  

The piece below was part of my toast to Sarah at their reception.  

--

May you allow the ritual of today to be the doorway through which you step into being this woman you're becoming.  

May you allow the love and support of this community to hold you, press into you, wrap around and
mold you; unfold you.

May you know your potential
First as realized, that you have arrived.
That what you do is enough, who you are is lush and
what you already offer has the sweetness of honey and the power of a punch.

May you know your potential as tiny seeds, just sprouting. May you look upon who you are becoming
with curiosity and awe, like when our lettuce started sprouting and we were all 'oh my God look at our
lettuce sprouting!'

May you know your potential as belonging to God.
A boundless mystery yet to unfold, an untold story that shall be written by the hand of what the world
wants of you

May your want of the world be received through a blooming heart as your compass,
your heart is your gift;
May you know that your heart is your medicine.
And while the field of this room is holding you,
your expansive heart is blessing us,
may you trust that all you receive is deserved and owed for the depth that you bring and the care that
you show.

May this union continue to inspire and nurture; rich soil for your growth.
May you both respect your individual identity, maintaining your autonomy, solid, strong.
As two trees may stand alongside one another, deep roots, intertwined, braches touching the divine
bearing fruit...

May your 'I love yous' never become light
wisps of air, clouds of habit that can be blown into the night.

May your 'I love yous' have the might of a drummer pounding on his heart
Waking him up, demanding of him what he's aching to give

And may you live in time with that beat,
may you meet
Every night as the day did begin,
lying next to him,
Skin to skin,
hearts beating to the sweet sound of his breath going out
and your breath coming in.