Into every life a little rain must fall, sometimes literally. But remember, this rain, this water, just completed a journey from ocean, to sky, to ground. From here, it will nourish and sustain life, and flow back to the ocean, to start the process again. So do not begrudge the water its fall. Its arrival guarantees life, and marks the end of one cycle, and the beginning of another. Just as this cycle exists with water, another cycle exists for humanity. It is one of the most spectacularly beautiful aspects of this cycle that we come to celebrate today. That of marriage. So, on to the marriage. We come here today, to witness the joining of Jesse Mundis and Barbara Shepard in marriage. So, we have the privilege to celebrate one of the best aspects of being human: love. --- "To love is one of life's pure, irreducible epiphanies. To love the one true person who deserves that love is one of the few absolute rewards of being a human being, balancing all of the pain, loss, awkwardness, loneliness, idiocy, compromise and clumsiness that go with the human condition." -- Dan Simmons [balderized] --- And, truly, to love is profound. But love, like all beauty in the universe, it is something that must be nurtured, protected and cherished. You have found beauty within yourselves, and within each other. With this glorious boon, comes a solemn responsibility: that of growing together, and tending to your love. --- "Life has taught us that love does not consist in gazing at each other but in gazing outward together in the same direction." --Antoine De Saint-Exupery --- As with all worthwhile pursuits, living a life together is a subtle art that will allow, and indeed demand, a life of learning and refinement. In return, you will have a constant companion, a soul-mate, a love for life. --- "I am life itself! Heaven is in my eyes! You are not alone! Let your tears fall on my breast! I will walk with you and be your support! Smile and hope! I am Love! ... I am divine!" -- from Andre Chenier ---