Reading

The Gamut

Soft you day, be velvet soft,
My true love approaches,
Look you bright, you dusty sun,
Array your golden coaches.

Soft you wind, be soft as silk,
My true love is speaking.
Hold you birds, your silver throats,
His golden voice I’m seeking.

Maya Angelou

Love is the ultimate contradiction; how to be strong by being completely vulnerable. We are asked to compromise more often with our lovers than we are with any other. We are asked to understand that an argument is not the end of a relationship but rather the beginning of a new level of understanding. We are asked to understand, sometimes, even when we don’t. And we are asked to understand that to earn trust we must show trust. No-one ever said it was going to be easy! But if we can laugh together and cry together, if we treat each new experience as an adventure, if we think the same things are silly, if we fight the same battles – if we are prepared to fight the same battles, if we can touch each other and shiver, if we can look at each other and see the lessons and memories of the past and the excitement and uncertainty of the future, in short, if it keeps getting better – then we are in love.

Rise above then the petty worries that trouble you and embrace a gentle feeling that will keep you cool in your youth, secure in your middle days and warm in your older days. Go together and see the world with fresh eyes and eager minds, be prepared to be wrong but try and be gracious when you are right!, and look at each other every so often as if you have never seen each other before… go on a first date every month. Say nice things, compliment each other, laugh even when the joke isn’t that funny! Gather those that you love and who love you, around you, and always, always be brave, even when you feel anything but. Remember that being gentle requires huge strength and to be gentle with each other is a precious thing indeed.

Neil and Shaun, you found each other and you have decided to share your lives and your love. Never let either of you take for granted the valuable gift you both have. Always feel blessed, because you are blessed. And let us remember those that cannot be here today because they are also part of this journey. There will be times when it will be hard, but be strong, be true and remember compromise is very in right now!

If it’s ok to steal someone else’s quote… Neil and Shaun we are gathered here today… to tell you that we love you and we wish you long happiness and short troubles, quick hangovers, small bills, big hugs, and lucky lottery numbers because really, the only thing more important that the air that we breathe, is the hand that we hold.