There I Am

I was looking up most popular love songs recently for a game Ayla wants to play at the rehearsal dinner. After going through hundreds of songs and completing the project for Ayla, I stumbled across one more. Why it never came to me in the first place was a surprise since it was sung at our wedding. But even more surprising is that it took me so long to find it on Top 25 or Top 50 love song lists. It was on a Top 100 list. Guess the other two weren't long enough. But that surprises me, because it is one of the most beautiful love songs there is.

It's called There Is Love or The Wedding Song. It was written by Paul Stookey of the group Peter, Paul and Mary for Peter Yarrow's wedding back in 1969. The lyrics say this:

He is now to be among you at the calling of your hearts
Rest assured this troubadour is acting on his part
The union of your spirits here has caused him to remain
For whenever two or more of you are gathered in his name
There is love
There is love
Well a man shall leave his mother and a woman leave her home
They shall travel on to where the two shall be as one
As it was in the beginning, is now until the end
Woman draws her life from man and gives it back again
And there is love
There is love
Well then what's to be reason for becoming man and wife
Is it love that brings you here, or love that brings you life
For if loving is the answer, then who's the giving for?
Do you believe in something that you've never seen before?
Oh, there's love
Oh there's love
Oh the marriage of your spirits here has caused him to remain
For whenever two or more of you are gathered in his name
There is love
Ah there's love

What a lot of folks don't know is the first stanza's original lyrics said this:

I am now to be among you at the calling of your hearts
Rest assured this troubadour is acting on My part
The union of your spirits here has caused Me to remain
For whenever two or more of you are gathered in My name
There am I
There is love

Peter, Paul & Mary

The story goes that Paul had recently became a Christian and was asked by Peter to bless his wedding with a song. Paul asked God how His Divine Presence could be present this wedding. He says the melody and lyrics came simultaneously to him as an answer to that prayer. This song is one of my favorites.

I almost wish the second word of that stanza was capitalized. And I wish the next to the last line read, "There I Am." I think it would have more theological and poetic punch. Sweet ones, when you marry, know that the Divine will be absolutely present. Where you will be, there will also be the Great I Am. He created marriage, physically and spiritually. It's a perfect union in its design. Designed to be the harbinger of the marriage of Christ and the church. Designed to be the nest of new human life. Designed for mutual love and edification. God is awesome, and His creation of marriage is likewise. We want you be in in awe of that. We want you to feel Him present at your vows. We want you to feel not just the love you have for each other that day, but Love itself (1 John 4:8). God will be present. May His presence bring your marriage complete fullness and overwhelming worship of the One who brought you together.

Discussion: What do you think of God being present at your marriage? Do you see your marriage ceremony as a worship service?

Prayer: Great I Am, Yahweh, Creator of the world, Almighty, Love, we honor and worship you. We offer you praise. We glorify your name and ask for your guidance and direction as we make sure the world hears your Name! Father, we ask for you to be present at these marriages and bless these unions in Christ's name, Amen.