Beautiful Readings
Article 8 of 9: Free Wedding Poetry
Beautiful Readings
We would like to credit and thank the Swedenborgian Church of San Francisco for this collection of readings. It is a beautiful place to be married, and welcomes all faith traditions.
From The Prophet on Marriage by Kahil Gibran
Then Almitra spoke again and said,
And what of Marriage, Master?
And he answered saying:
You were born together, and
together you shall be forever more.
You shall be together
when the white wings of death
scatter your days.
Aye, you shall be together
even in the silent memory of God.
But let there be spaces
in your togetherness,
and let the winds
of the heavens dance between you.
Love one another
but make not a bond of love:
Let it rather be a moving sea
between the shores of your souls.
Fill each other's cup
but drink from one cup.
Give one another of your bread
but eat not from the same loaf.
Sing and dance together
and be joyous,
but let each one of you be alone,
even as the strings of a lute
are alone though they quiver
with the same music.
Give your hearts,
but not into each other keeping.
For only the hand of Life
can contain your hearts.
And stand together,
yet not too near together:
For the pillars of the temple
stand apart,
and the oak tree and the cypress
grow not in each other's shadow.
~~~~~~
An Apache song
Now you will feel no rain,
for each of you will be a shelter to the other.
Now you will feel no cold,
for each of you will be warmth to the other.
Now there is no loneliness for you,
now there is no more loneliness.
Now you are two bodies,
but there is only one life before you.
Go now to your dwelling place,
to enter into your days together.
And may your days be good,
and long upon the earth.
~~~~~~
I Love You
by Larry S. Chengges
I love you
Not only for what you are,
But for what I am
When I am with you.
I love you,
Not only for what
You have made of yourself,
But for what
You are making of me.
I love you
For the part of me
That you bring out;
I love you
For putting your hand
Into my heaped-up heart
And passing over
All the foolish, weak things
That you can't help
Dimly seeing there,
And for drawing out
Into the light
All the beautiful belongings
That no one else had looked
Quite far enough to find.
I love you
Because you have done
More than any creed
Could have done
To make me good.
And more than any fate
Could have done
To make me happy.
You have done it
Without a touch
Without a word,
Without a sign.
You have done it
By being yourself,
Perhaps that is what
Being a friend means,
After All.
~~~~~~
A Jewish Blessing
Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the Lord
We bless you out of the house of the Lord
Serve the Lord with gladness; come before Him with singing.
O God supremely blessed, supreme in might and glory, guide and bless this bridegroom and bride.
Unto Thee, O God and Father, we lift our souls ion praise. All creation declares Thy glory; through human beings, fashioned in Thine image, Thou hast revealed Thy majesty. Within his heart Thou hast implanted the ennobling influences of love and devotion. Thou Who art the Source of life and of joy, bless the covenant which this bridegroom and bride now seal in Thy name. Be with them in this sacred hour and in all the days to come. Amen.
Wine sharing:
(BA-RUCH AH-TAH AH-DO-NAI
EH-LO-HAY-NU MEH-LECH HAIO-LAM
BO-RAY PRI HA-GA-FEN.)
Blessed art Thou,
O Lord our God,
King of the Universe,
Creator of the Fruit of the vine.
~~~~~~
From the Book of the Essences:
Blessed is the child of light
who is pure in heart,
for that person shall see God.
For as the heavenly Father has given you
his Holy Spirit,
and your earthly mother has given you
her holy body,
so shall you give love
to all your brothers and sisters.
And your true brothers and sisters are those
who do the will of your heavenly Father
and your earthly mother.
Let your love be as the Sun
which shines on all the creatures of the earth,
and does not favor one blade of grass
for another.
And this love shall flow as a fountain
from person to person,
and as it is spent
so shall it be replenished.
For love is eternal.
Love is stronger
than the currents of deep waters.
Love is stronger than death.
And if human beings have not love,
they build walls between themselves
And the creatures of the earth.
~~~~~~
From Buddha's Teaching: Unlimited Friendliness
This is what should be done by the man and woman who are wise, who seek the good, and who know the meaning of the place of peace.
Let them be fervent, upright, and sincere, without conceit of self, easily contented and joyous, free of cares; let them not be submerged by the things of the world; let them not take upon themselves the burden of worldly goods, let them be wise but not puffed up, and let them not desire great possessions even for their families.
May all beings be happy and at their ease. All beings, whether weak or strong - omitting none - in high, middle, or low realms of existence, small or great, visible or invisible, near or far way, born or to be born.
Even as a mother watches over and protects her only child, so with a boundless mind should one cherish all living beings, radiating friendliness over the entire world, above, below, and all around without limit. So let them cultivate a boundless good will toward the entire world, unlimited, free from ill-will or enmity.
Standing or walking, sitting or lying down, during all their waking hours, let them establish this mindfulness of good will, which is the highest state. Those who are perfect will never again know rebirth.
~~~~~~
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