Darkness to Light by David H. Maring

Author:David H. Maring [Maring, David H.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: BookBaby

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Beth accepted Luke’s proposal of marriage the week after their return. An early date was set because the feeling of love and physical attraction required immediate union. Beth lived with Luke’s family, and he moved out to stay with Mark. The soon to be newlyweds found an apartment on the edge of town for sale. It belonged to the widow of a man killed during a skirmish on the border with Paradise’s security forces.

***

The sun had come out after three days of rain. By the time of the wedding the heat and a slight breeze had dried the surface so that the humidity was low. A perfect day for a wedding. As Beth waited in the synagogue with Isaac, she realized that her worries about the weather had been unnecessary anxiety.

Behind the synagogue was a courtyard with a chuppah, a plain cloth canopy held up by four poles. Among the guests were John and Leigh. Anyone watching could tell when her fingers touched the sleeve of his coat that there was an attraction between them. This wasn’t visible in the interaction between Leroy and Kisa. No one, not even Leroy, suspected Kisa’s plans for them. The day Leroy volunteered for that suicide mission, she decided to have him as her husband.

Luke arrived with his brothers and mother. While Luke went and stood under the Chuppah, they joined the other members of his extended family.

The dress was a perfect fit for Beth’s slim figure and appropriate for the occasion. The diamonds sewn into the fabric glistened in the sunrays. Beth’s face was partially obscured by a thin black veil made of silk whose construction allowed a glimpse of the features that lay behind it. After Isaac and Beth joined Luke, the ceremony went quickly.

The rites were a combination of both Jewish and Christian traditions. Isaac handed the couple lighted candles, which symbolized purity. After a few words from Isaac, the couple handed the candles to Simon who had joined them under the tent. The couple then placed the rings in Isaac’s hand. Holding them above the bride and groom, he blessed them three times and then returned them to the couple. After Luke and Beth exchanged rings, Isaac read from the Holy Scriptures.

“Almighty God established the covenant of marriage as a union of husband and wife in heart, body, and mind, and also for the procreation of children with these little ones to be nurtured in the knowledge of God, and also for the mutual joy of husband and wife, and for the comfort of one another in sickness and in health. I charge you that according to the scriptures love is patient and kind. Love does not envy or boast.

After the reading, three elders holding candles read six blessing.

Luke and Beth took a sip of white wine from the same glass. This symbolized the fact that from that moment, they must share the same cup of life. Luke then took the glass, wrapped a towel around it, placed it in the ground, and smashed it.

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