I've preached many weddings and I've attended many weddings but never like this! This is about a wedding I was unexpectedly part of, from July 28, 2012.
Well, here's the big news of the
day.... and maybe the trip! All this took place with the last hour. I was
sitting outside as I do each evening and Nhanh asked me, I thought, if I wanted
to go to the market. She had promised me before to take some pictures there- I
am reluctant as they are already staring at me and I don't want to come off as
disrespectful in any way. So we walk down in that direction, with Nhi on her
scooter, and I see lights and a tent set up several blocks away in the middle
of the street with music playing! It was a wedding! (Actually, the wedding is in
two parts with the feast tonight and the ceremony tomorrow morning.) Earlier in
a sermon, I had mentioned I wanted to go to a Vietnamese wedding and she
remembered. When we got there, I was taken back and I gave the camera to Nhanh
and walked to the far side of the tent, which was beautifully decorated, and
tried to be as unobtrusive as a tall American can be at a Vietnamese
wedding. Did I mention that I was dressed in basketball shorts, running shoes,
and a Wichita Collegiate School tennis t-shirt complete with a mustard stain
from the hot dog I had just eaten? A young man came out and asked in good
English where I was going and I told him the market. I was afraid they were
offended with me standing there and Nhanh taking pictures but he was very
friendly. Next, an elderly man who spoke no English came out and shook my hand
and talked to the young man. They invited me into the party for a toast at one
of the main tables with the groom's friends! I protested I wasn't properly
dressed- NO PROBLEM! I am not exaggerating when I say I became the center of
attention! The next thing I know, I'm sitting there with these groomsmen,
relatives, and the bride and groom, toasting the happy couple! (Disclaimer: as a
non-drinker, I did not swallow!) I shook hands all around and even the bride
thanked me for coming in decent English! Then they asked me to stay and eat! I
asked Nhanh and she said we needed to go so ended my adventure but not without
a picture with two absolutely cute flower girls! I just have one word to
describe all this which happened so quickly and out of nowhere; WOW! Could there be any better
example of the Parable of the Chief Seats which Jesus set in a wedding feast? I
innocently show up and try to disappear and the next thing I know, the master of
the banquet basically tells me, to quote the parable, "Friend, move up higher!"
When we got home, Tom told me it's considered good luck in Vietnam if a
foreigner comes to a wedding. The blessing tonight was on the
foreigner.
I'm exhausted with rejoicing,
if that's possible. Pray for me as I preach tomorrow for the final time and
prepare to leave. And thank the Lord for giving me a once in a lifetime
opportunity tonight. In nine weeks, I'll be preaching Charlotte Berson's wedding
in Houston. I'm ready right now!
God bless,
Steve
Luke
18:1
www.hawleybooks.com
E-mail me at shawley@westburychristian.org
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