LET THE ADVENTURE BEGIN (Ali and Gregg Mix)

(I wrote this poem/reflection for a wedding a few years ago. On Saturday, as I had the privilege of speaking at Ali and Gregg McKeown's wedding, I  took their readings and their story and tweaked it to make it personal to them. It still speaks to us all I think...)

Let the adventure begin

To fulfil the promise

Of the promise of what you can be

By the promises you have just made

Let the adventure begin

Like Cycling close to edge of some Rocky Mountain Ridge

Wheels spinning faster down some Mournes forest ridge descent

Adventuring

Pushing the thrill

Living it to the maximum

Jesus called it "Life and life in all its fullness"

Experiencing the exhilaration

Falling in disappointment and pain

The fullness of joy

The fullness of hurt

Let the adventure begin

The adventure of love

Not pleasing yourself

But sacrificing your thrill

For the thrill of your lover

Two can now be

Stronger, faster, higher

Wiser, braver, more discerning

To take your lives and find the place

Where your deepest longing

Meets the world’s deepest needs

Being joyful in hope, 

Patient in affliction, 

Faithful in prayer

Let the adventure begin

To find the love that God created

The tinder that swiped and sparked

The love that glows into blazing fire

Love that can never be quenched

Let the adventure begin

And may the grace that brought you safe this far

Be the grace that takes you home.

 

Father God show Ali and Gregg a bigger picture

Jesus put more grace notes into their traditional song

Holy Spirit put them on a road that’s deeper and more scenic

Than the one they’ve been on

Amen