And yet, and yet…

Recently I officiated an outdoor wedding. It was a very nice October day, the bride was beautiful, everyone was where they needed to be, the order went great. It was a very smooth ceremony.

Until it came to communion.

The bride and groom wanted to take communion for the first time as a couple, but when I turned to get set, I saw that there was a yellowjacket floating in the wine.

Yikes.

There are moments in life where everything can seem to be going perfectly. We can be diligent, prepared, ready to go, and still there’s a yellowjacket in the wine.

There are a lot of emotions in that moment. Fear, confusion, frustration, humor, maybe a little panic. This moment that you’ve worked up to for months is threatened by a stupid bug with an alcohol problem.

But this is the way of life. In some of the moments that are the best set, we find the strangest and most disappointing letdowns. I find that it’s most often connected to missed expectations. And in that moment of disappointment what do you do?

In the case of the bride and groom, the quick thinking groom quietly suggested that we dip the bread in the wine, thus avoiding the besotted insect and still appreciating a great moment before our Lord praying together for the first time as a married couple.

While we took the communion together, it was a great moment to remember the other option we have when life turns differently than we’d expected: humor. It often happens that we can choose the gift of laughter over resentment. The misfortunes of today can become the chuckles of later years. The yellowjacket in the wine can become the laughter of tomorrow.

Friends, laugh a little. When life turns in strange and complicated ways, appreciate the absurdity of moments and look for the lessons the Lord has in store for you. Find your way to celebrate together in the fleeting nature of our lives, finding laughter under the sunny skies and moments of prayer in closeness. That laughter might be the lifeline that sees you to the best days.

Strength and dignity are her clothing,
    and she laughs at the time to come.
She opens her mouth with wisdom,
    and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. Proverb 31:25-26