Tomorrow night I'm going to a wedding reception, but the bride and groom won't be there. In fact, only one family member will be there, and most people at the party have never met the betrothed. We're celebrating without them because the bride's sister can't be there in person.
The story behind this is a captivating tale---perhaps too long and complicated to expand on through a mere blog post. But it does have a happy ending, so take a read, my friends, and be reminded how very precious life can be...
Once upon a time, there was a beautiful princess named Diane who lived in a quiet suburb of Cleveland, Ohio. She'd spent most of her adult life contemplating her rightful place in the universe, moving a bit from job to job and never quite feeling satisfied with her lot. She had enjoyed her recent work as a nanny, where she could revel in the miracle of children while sharing her sunshiny wisdom and uncanny generosity of spirit with small people who appreciated her special talents. But somehow it wasn’t enough.
Then one day, her sister (another princess who lived in a quiet suburb of Detroit) told her about an amazing organization that was helping kids in Sri Lanka. There were orphans...lots and lots of orphans...who needed shelter, guidance and love. A school for girls was there, she was told, but after the tragic tsunami it was filled to capacity and sorely in need of someone to serve as its leader.
Intrigued and impressed, Diane was compelled to visit the school for herself. She boldly planned a trip to Southeast Asia with the vague idea that she might share her services in some way. Once there, the young girls gravitated toward her like earnest, brave disciples who immediately dubbed her "Auntie Di". She was forever changed.
What started out as an exploratory journey became a passionate dedication unlike anything the 80 girls in the orphanage had ever experienced. With Princess Diane’s help, the school took on other devoted staff members, grew the organization’s support base and gave the girls a precious gift of optimism. In the same breath, she created a home for herself.
The story would be beautiful if it simply ended there, with Princess Diane and the girls living long and happy lives together playing joyously in the sea (something that once had struck terror in the children and now was a beloved pastime, thanks to the princess).
But the beauty of the story continues. After a brief reprieve post-tsunami, the turbulence that had wracked Sri Lanka before the storm reared its ugly head once more. Civil war escalated all around the sacred school, and Princess Diane was caught in the midst of danger and uncertainty day and night. Roadside bombings, random executions and gunfire became the background music of her life. Still, her dedication never wavered.
After some time, business took her to the metropolis of Columbo, where a mutual friend introduced her to a man named Jerome.
Jerome was wise and funny. And handsome. A prince, to be sure. In the blink of an eye, Princess Diane was changed once more, this time by a different force. An immediate connection was made, and Princess Diane and Prince Jerome fell very much in love.
Jerome lived hours from Diane, a distance that was dramatically emphasized with war-ravaged terrain. Their visits were priceless, but more dangerous by the day. The beautiful princess soon realized that coming to Sri Lanka and creating a solid foundation for the children’s school was simply one part of a greater plan to bring her to her prince. The couple was engaged to be married, and Diane began a process to pass the wonderful work she’d done at the school onto the other capable, committed staff.
One magical February day, Princess Diane and Prince Jerome became husband and wife, and began the next chapter of their special lives together. They still aren’t sure where the princess's journey that began in Cleveland will take them, or how long their prince's countrymen will struggle with war. But of one thing they are very sure: whatever path is put before them, they will walk it together into a future filled with meaning and purpose. Princess Diane will never again wonder about her place in the universe, for wherever it takes shape, it will always be by Prince Jerome’s side.Labels: sri lanka, weddings
