Our Faith Journey to Love

By Lydia Lin and Gregory Hillendahl

 

Lydia:

The joyful melody of a wedding procession, a church filled with beautifully dressed guests, its sanctuary adorned with colorful flowers on white columns and ivory candles on golden candlesticks. Standing in front of the platform, a tall, handsome bridegroom in a bright white tuxedo with four groomsmen at his side.

A radiant bride holding a bouquet of delicate orchids, arm in arm with her uncle as they slowly walk through brocade-laced arches, her face beaming with joy as she approaches her beloved groom. Ah, this wedding scene has played out in my heart countless times. Is it my wedding? Or am I still dreaming?

For a single girl long past suitable marriage age, I had been accustomed to attending other people's weddings, accepting that, in this life, I might not have the opportunity to ever get married myself. A car accident more than twenty years before still affected my life: blindness in my left eye, ten major surgeries, including four facial reconstructions, spine kyphosis and scoliosis, and the need to rest often. In this situation, marriage seemed hopeless. Yet there I was, able to walk down the aisle of my own wedding. How had I come all this way?  

Greg:

As I stand in this beautiful church filled with warmth, grace, and joyful music, my heart stirs with delight. My Taiwanese princess, my beautiful bride, smiles as she walks toward me. Yes, faithful Heavenly Father, thank you for your perfect timing in bringing my long-awaited, beloved one to me!