A Valentine Wedding

I had the pleasure of playing for an afternoon wedding that took place on February 14, 2011.  It’s remarkable how it came about.  A few weeks earlier, my daughter offered to write a brochure to introduce me as a piper for weddings and other ceremonies in the area of White Rock, because we moved to British Columbia a year ago.  She suggested that I should dress in my Highland attire and have her take some pictures of me playing the pipes on White Rock’s beach.

After piping and picture taking, a man whom I hadn’t noticed surprised me by asking if I would play for his wedding, which would be on the 14th.  I accepted and thanked him.  His plan was to be piped in along with his best man, as a surprise to his family, especially his bride.  My daughter remarked on our way home, that we might do well to revisit the beach twice a week.  I’d play the pipes and she could hand out my card.  It was an amusing thought.

This gentleman and his groom were met at the beach half an hour before the ceremony.  He requested “Highland Cathedral,” to commence the ceremony.  His delighted guests, who were gathered on the hall’s balcony, could witness the groom and his best man being piped across the lawn and through the hall’s big doors.  The guests heard the pipes coming up the stairs to the lively tune of a six-eight march, called, “Farewell to the Creeks.”  With a few more measures of music, they were led to the archway.  The commissioner welcomed everyone, then, to a recording chosen by the bride, the flower girl and then the bride’s maid entered, followed by the beautiful bride herself, on her father’s arm.

The groom had taken the precaution not to loose the rings and consequently wore them on his finger where they resisted removal.  The accommodating bride volunteered to accomplish the task at home with a bit of soap and water.  Fortunately, their hold was relinquished, thus reducing everyone’s suspense to only a few moments!

I enjoyed piping for this small and delightful wedding.  Previously, I’ve piped the bride in with “Trumpet Tune,” or a similar classic selection, while my choice to parade the newly married couple from the church would often be “The Highland Wedding March.”  However, this was an intimate wedding designed by the groom who wanted to surprise his bride by being piped in with his best man, and it was obvious that she was delighted.

Thoughts About The Cross

Lately, I've been reading about the cross on which Jesus was sacrificed.  I’ve learned many lessons from it.  Apparently, a prophet, Isaiah, described the ordeal in considerable detail 700 years beforehand, saying the LORD had laid on this poor, tortured individual, the sins of everyone, and in so doing, He “healed” them.  Then, in relation to the story, a criminal named Barabbas was allowed his freedom from death, when Jesus was substituted for him.  The man accepted his freedom.  He represents each of us, for we have been freed from the bondage imposed upon us because of our sins.  We would do best to accept our freedom, but many foolishly remain confined by their sins even after having been given a reprieve.

Conversations arose amongst Jesus and the two malefactors on those three cruel crosses.  One man cried out doubtingly, “If you are God, then save yourself and us.”  The other simply asked, “Lord, remember me when you come into your Paradise.”  He was assured that he’d be in Paradise that day with Christ.  It is the same today, that some will believe while others won’t.  Jesus made no stipulation that good works were necessary, which was impossible anyway.  Forgiveness is available to anyone asking in faith.  Only God can forgive a person’s sins and assure eternal life.  Although Jesus is God, He was as human as we are and complained of thirst.

Looking down from the cross, Jesus noted his mother, deprived of her son’s support and He saw John, His disciple there too.  He asked John to care for her as though she was his own mother.  By this, He portrayed a loving relationship between a mother and her son.

Forgiveness was strongly featured from the cross when Jesus lifted His head to the Heavens and prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing.”  Of course He was referring to the people who clamored, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” and to the Roman soldiers who nailed Him there to die an excruciating death.  We know His forgiveness was for us too, because it was for everyone who repents of his or her sins that He died.

The words Jesus spoke just before He died were, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”  He could have called ten thousand angels, but He died alone for you and me.  His prayer was heart wrenching, but God could not look upon His Son because He represented all the sins of the world.  Although He was sinless, He was made to be sin for our sakes.  No greater Sacrifice could ever have been made for our sinfulness than for God to sacrifice His Son.  God could not look upon sin.  Jesus suffered the despair of loneliness.

Finally, He raised his head in prayer and exclaimed, “It is finished.”  Now, mankind can meet personally with God at the foot of the cross on which Jesus Christ, gave His life.

Several miraculous things occurred when Jesus died.  Besides the earthquake, a curtain preventing anyone from entering the holiest part of the temple was ripped spontaneously from top to bottom.  It was God’s invitation for everyone to come before Him without hindrance.  That moment, when the sky turned dark in the middle of the afternoon, a centurion who witnessed the drama exclaimed, “Surely, this man was the Son of God!”

While Jesus hung on the cross, soldiers gambled for his cloak.  They were close to the cross but weren’t a part of it, not unlike those who attend church as a social outing, without reverencing God.  The soldiers ignored the cross and cast their dice at the expense of the Saviour, like people do today.  Jesus gives us an opportunity to make a new start in life, a fresh beginning by accepting His offer of forgiveness and renewal.  Fellowship with God and the promise of eternal life are amazing gifts.