Two Bright Orbs: Shining the Light of Love

When attending celebrations where unity in diversity is not just in words but in action I feel hope for the future of Australia and the World.

I was so happy that my family were able to experience the inspiring coming together of the diversity of the human family and community into one larger family at the wedding of Shannon and Sarah.

I was not an official photographer, just a friend, caught up like all of us were, in the connections made between so many cultures and religions that day.

Here is the Southern Sudanese Welcoming Party who called the Bride into her Wedding.

 

These are special moments of connection, where two families become one, followed by an image of a lovely lady who said an Islamic prayer for the ceremony.

 

Some of the ceremony includes a Baha’i prayer, a song, and some words from the Celebrant.

Shannon’s mother reads a prayer.

The next few pictures are of my children at the wedding.  My daughter loved the beautiful and interesting fabrics.  They were both delighted and engrossed with the ceremony.  One of the groomsmen was Felix, a long time family friend, who we have not seen for many years, but have stayed in touch with on facebook. Felix has both Torres Strait and Papua New Guinean background.

This beautiful lady, a first cousin of Sarah’s from Sydney, gave me the most endearing smile when she saw me snapping away.  She had flown from Sydney to attend the Toowoomba Wedding.

Some more pictures of the friends and family connecting and participating at the wedding.

Feeling blessed to know such beautiful souls. Love knows no boundaries, and gives to each that gives it truly – the universe.

A prayer for marriage from the Baha’i Writings

O my Lord! O my Lord! These two bright orbs are wedded in Thy love, conjoined in servitude to Thy Holy Threshold, united in ministering to thy Cause. Make Thou this marriage to be as threading lights of Thine abounding grace, O my Lord, the All-Merciful, and luminous rays of Thy bestowals, O Thou the Beneficent, the Ever-Giving, that there may branch out from this great tree boughs that will grow green and flourishing through the gifts that rain down from Thy clouds of grace.

Verily, Thou art the Generous. Verily, Thou art the Compassionate, the All-Merciful.
‘Abdu’l-Bahá

 

A big thank you to Sarah and Shannon and their family and friends for sharing this special day with us and for permission to share some of the images.  These and other photographs are my wedding gift to Shannon and Sarah (nearly finished editing and collating them).