Reflections on Dale and Charlotte’s Wedding
Sue and I were privileged to attend Dale and Charlotte’s lovely marriage ceremony late Sabbath afternoon on October 8, 2022. The setting was the intimate, semicircular, sanctuary of the LaGrange United Methodist Church.
The size, arrangement, and decoration of this room evoked emotional memories of my childhood and churches of which I was a member or had visited. Seeing Dale & Charlotte’s obvious happiness, and the same from the members of Dale’s and Charlotte’s families attending, added to my contented sense of peace. A talented pianist provided quiet selections as we were seated.
Sue and I were enjoying all of this in the pew directly behind Dale’s adult granddaughter, Emily and her parents, Pastor Matt and Ellen. I am not well acquainted with Emily having never spent much time around her, but I admire her evocative, demonstrative nature. Thus, I was most interested to observe her when the pianist began the song, The Rose. I perked-up immediately when I recognized the song and so did Emily – I could see and nearly feel the emotion of it flowing through her facial expresses and her entire body. I hadn’t thought of this great song being used at a wedding, so my mind was working on the words, trying to call them back. I was not entirely successful, so I looked up the lyrics.
THE ROSE
By songwriter – Amanda Mcbroom
Some say love, it is
a river
That drowns the
tender reed
Some say love, it is
a razor
That leaves your soul
to bleed
Some say love, it is
a hunger
An endless aching
need
I say love, it is a
flower
And you, its only
seed
It’s the heart afraid
of breaking
That never learns to
dance
It’s the dream afraid
of waking
That never takes the
chance
It’s the one who
won’t be taking
Who cannot seem to
give
And the soul afraid
of dying
That never seems to
live.
Just remember in the
winter
Far beneath the
bitter snows
Lies the seed that
with the sun’s love
In the spring becomes
the rose.
Thank you, Emily, for the boost & nudge you gave me to reflect on this. Oh, to be able to write well! There are layers and layers of meaning here which I will leave for any of you to interpret for yourselves should you choose to do so. For me, these words so speak to Dale and the benign, loving, sincere person that is the Dale Green that I know. Barb also speaks to me through this song in a most comforting and blessing way
The ceremony itself was perfect. The happiness and good feeling in the room was palpable. This feeling continued at the lovely dinner that followed. A sense of family, of love, of life descended on me, and I can only say, it is, indeed, Well With My Soul.
Dale & Charlotte, congratulations and all the best as you begin this journey together.
Jon Cruzan – October 9, 2022
