‘May we be a light for others.’

It’s a simple exhortation, and could have come from the lips of any number of old wise teachers.

But, exhortations aside, there just some people who are naturals. Who light us up. Making us break into smiles and feel good.

And sometimes they are not old.

I was officiating at this wedding on Saturday. Delightful couple. Lots of kids in the church, including three of their own. Lots of happy noises.

Bride in a big white dress and train. A quartet of bridesmaids in pink. Groom and men all in their three-pieces. The full works.

There was a mix of cultures too, just like most weddings.

And some tensions too, just like most weddings.

Families often have tensions that like meerkats have the habit of popping their heads up at weddings and looking around. But thankfully, the heads went back into their holes, and the joy of the occasion dominated.

And nearly everyone came early, unlike most weddings.

Being a big wedding there was a big rehearsal the night before. Of particular note was the flower girl and flower boy.

The latter was not a ring-bearer carrying a white satin cushion with ribbons holding the hardware. No, he was a flower boy. With a mission. The mission being to hold the hand of the nervous six-year-old in the pink dress who had a basket of petals to distribute down the aisle.

And I didn’t mention, the flower boy was at least 15. A confident and kind 15-year-old, who was there to help his young cousin with her flower throwing debut.

Well, on the day, a crisis occurred. Young cousin with the basket and petals fell ill. Not just tummy-nerves-ill, but needing-to-go-home ill. Very sad for her, and for her mum.

A hurried discussion took place. Should a new flower girl be recruited?  No. Too late. No obvious candidates. Should then the petal throwing thing be canned?

“No,” the flower boy steps up. “I’ll do it,” he says. Everyone smiles and settles back into their pre-crisis mode of heightened expectation.

So, on the hour, yes this is one of those punctual weddings, I walked down the aisle, asked the congregation to stand for the bride, and to Elton’s “Can you feel the love tonight?” the porch doors opened and the flower boy led the pink quartet in.

Now I had imagined that the flower boy, being somewhat nervous as those in this role usually are, would imitate your usual flower girl, namely demurely dropping petals from said basket as he made his way up the aisle.

But there was nothing ‘usual’ about this or him. This was ‘lights, camera, action.’ This was the moment to shine. Maybe it was the Elton effect?

Well, he fair danced up that aisle. With panache, and style, and overflowing flair. With pockets brimming with petals, he liberally showered them over the congregation.

Smiles broke out across the church. The groom was chuckling. The kids were cheering. Even the meerkats were smiling.

And when he got to the front, like the true professional he was, he quickly blended into the wedding party as the spotlight turned appropriately to the bride.

Glynn

(Photo: Elton and the Lion King types doing their thing).

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