the deepening ground

August and July brim over with wedding celebrations. My son’s marriage earlier this month brought the total number of wedding anniversaries from the last week of July through today, August 22nd, to FOUR just on my side of the family. In the coming two months, I believe we will celebrate three more weddings on my wife’s side.

As summer draws to a close and we begin to resurrect the regular routines of life, I managed to snatch a few moments over the weekend to clean out an old file cabinet in the basement. In it, I found the folder of songs I had copyrighted over ten years ago. Among them was this rough recording I made with my wife, singing a song I wrote for her that we eventually performed at a friend’s wedding. This felt like a fitting conclusion to my recent series of posts on marriage. Celebrating all of you who have celebrated an anniversary this summer! May you remember the joy of waking with your first love beside you!

Awaken the Dawn (for Sarah)

Vincent H. Anastasi - 2008

This wondrous creation, this deeper embrace
The two become one in the secret place
The veil now is rended, relationship mended
Our longings are now satisfied

We take up our cross and we lay down our rights
The holy example of Jesus Christ
A joining and leaving, a brand new beginning
The promise of husband and wife

          And I will awaken the dawn with you
          No matter what comes along, it's true
          In sunshine and laughter, in pain and disaster
          I pledge my life here to you
          I pledge my life here to you

We've made ourselves ready, considered the cost
The things that we cherished, we now count as lost
So lead us and guide us by living inside us
There's no greater call on our lives

          And I will awaken the dawn with you
          No matter what comes along, it's true
          In sunshine and laughter, in pain and disaster
          I pledge my life here to you
          I pledge my life here to you

And what is this we've become, we've become
And what is this we've become, we are one (REPEAT)

          And I will awaken the dawn with you
          No matter what comes along, it's true
          In sunshine and laughter, in pain and disaster
          I pledge my life here to you
          I pledge my life here to you, it's true
          I pledge my life here to you