I knew going into the wedding that my clients had been in Iraq as recently as three months ago. I offered them a discount out of respect for the noble and dangerous work they do. Honestly, I wish I could have done it for free, but at this point in my life I just can't. Maybe I will one day, but not today.

When the events and the ceremony started going, though, I found it to be an extraordinary emotional experience for me. I was thinking about how just a few months ago both the bride and groom were in a war zone, engaged, together but separate. Today, they were together. They seemed so happy. They had a sense of peace which superceded everything, like anything could go wrong with the ceremony or the weather or any kind of superficial stuff and it just wouldn't bother them. I'm sure their Christian values cause that, but I couldn't help but to reflect on the fact that they are simply grateful to be alive and that their experiences in that war zone may have changed them for the better for the rest of their lives. Simply put - they are (what we all should be) thankful to be here. One or both of them could have very easily perished in Iraq, and I think they know that. In that context, most of the problems we have here in America are quite small.

I only hope that they continue to carry out the noble military mission that they supported in Iraq at home in their marriage. By that, I mean, the military mission they served in spread freedom to a part of the world that had none. Freely entering into a marriage is a beautiful thing and is the perfect way for them to exhibit the freedom they just cultivated in the Middle East. I pray that they remember that in the years ahead which will certainly be filled with lots of joy and also a lot of very difficult times. The perseverance required to make a marriage work is sometimes portrayed as a ball and chain, or limits on our behavior, but it is actually the purest expression of love, faith in God, and freedom I can think of (other than worship, of course).

I am extremely tired right now, so I hope I've made some sense to you. I just wanted to be sure to write these thoughts down before the night erased them from my delirious mind.