The bride arrived in a horse-drawn cart. As she walked down the newly-mown aisle her eyes locked on her fiancé and never wavered. A lace veil pinned to her hair danced upwards in the updraft of a mischievous breeze. All around us the hundred-acre field began to assume twilight, the sky crisping to cerulean blue, the trees sharpening their red edges, the hay turning molten gold. I might have held my breath: I had little to do with this marriage and everything to learn from it.

Lately I have caught myself cynical more than positive. Muttering. Feeling abandoned. Pulled under by a sort of fear-negativism-blighted attitude. A very uncharacteristic dark in the heart feeling has made it hard to write, get out of bed with any bounce, tackle the hard chores.

I don’t remember the last time I felt the heat of love like what radiated from this bride and groom. Every cliche for sure — eyes sparkling, smiles wide, laughs from the belly, endless kisses. The musicians mimicked the breeze. The light was magical. Their affirmations so sweet.

The wedding of a friend’s daughter last weekend in a field surrounded by love and light gave me hope, pure and simple: hope for happiness, hope that the energy force of love and devotion thrives and is resilient, despite.

I predict those two will slay the world with that energy. Even those of us on the fringes of their lives came away light in the heart after they recited their vows, slid on their rings and dipped down for a beautiful embrace. Love will absolutely conquer all.

I have let current events here and amongst the world overwhelm because I forgot the basics: find joy first and the rest of what the world throws at you will bounce off.

Thanks for inviting me. Now where will you find the light in your heart?

The alter.

A field in Albany Maine, October 11 2025