Well, they did it. Steve and Vanessa are married. It was a beautiful day with great food, great tunes and loads of fun.
I didn't think we'd be making speeches, because it was advertised as an informal affair without the usual wedding rules, but on Thursday my mom told me Ryan was making a speech so I wrote something up and memorized it for the occasion. As it turned out, they didn't want any such thing and I never got to deliver this speech, but here it is anyways for your amusement.
There's a passage I’ve got memorized that I’d like to share with you all. It seems appropriate for this situation.
Ezekiel 25:17. "The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he who, in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of the darkness. For he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know I am the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon you."
I’ve been saying that for years but I never really questioned what it meant. I saw something today, we all saw it, we were all there, and it’s made me think twice. Now I’m thinking Steve here is the righteous man Ezekiel’s writing about.
Calling Steve a righteous man hardly does him justice. In the immortal words of Grace the secretary in Ferris Bueller’s Day off, he’s a righteous dude and any woman would be lucky to have him. Vanessa, you’re the Bryan Colangelo of weddings and you’ve just won the lottery.
You’re a sweet girl, and I’ve grown to dig you the most, but I think you need to recall Ezekiel 25:17 and the fact that I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. Stephen or Ryan, it doesn’t matter which one.
Stephen, I love you. You’re a great brother and I'm certain you'll make a great husband. Vanessa, you look nice in that dress. Congratulations to both of you! Now make babies for mom.
Thanks.
That's it. For ten years I've wanted to deliver a speech like that and this was my first opportunity to do so. If I ever get another chance to speak at such an affair, I'll be quoting good ol' Ezekiel 25:17.
Here's my photoset from the wedding. Congratulations again to Steve and Vanessa. I wish you many years of happiness.
