Tairngir tellings

Who now looks after those whose bones are gnawed on by the Jackal?

Whose burdens have dragged them to the depths of the ocean of sadness in their hearts?

The world asks: How much? How many? How pretty? How worth it?

Each question a lode stone made of gross diamond and death granite.

None are scarless and most have open sores that ooze failure

Tears-invisible trace the word 'Lost' on one cheek and 'Done' on the other

This world of grief trapped orbiting around hearts in the black universe of our chests leaving us asking: why?

Why did he die? Why did she leave? Why am I alone? Why?

Fallen yet not forgotten as we cry out on our knees: You. now. please?

She asks: Who's hungry? Who's thirsty? Who feels worthless?

Each word that flows from ageless lips a kiss in the dark and a melody in the silence.

Healing rises in his wings as we are invited to soar as eagles beneath

'There is hope' She whispers weightily into the vacuum

'There is hope' and it rises in my nostrils as a whiff of courage

'There is hope' and I see it as a glint of the sun rising upon the horizon

'There is hope' and I taste it as victorious freedom on my lips

There is hope.........

I would like to start off my short speech by thanking Anna my beautiful wife for being here. And I am compelled by the deepest gratitude to thank Anna's parents: Peter and Lucy (allow for cheers) and Fiona our wedding chief of staff for her tireless effort and superb organisational skills that we would have been incredibly lost without. I will be holding back thanks to Ash my best man until I have heard his speech and how much of a ribbing he gives me. My thank you's could go on and If I were to thank everybody who did their part individually I would be here for many moons. So I would like to thank from the bottom of my heart all those who were involved in making today the day that it is: For their encouragement and love; for their sacrifice and monumental effort. This day does not belong to just two people but to all here gathered and those who wished to be here but couldn't make it.

In my heart I envisaged this day to be a celebration of love. A celebration that love wins. That no matter how dark the path: it leads to a sun-drenched glade where human heart can know peace. Many of you here know one or both of our stories: You know the loss we have been through; the disappointments we have faced. You saw us when fear had its day. And in the course of all of our lives fear will have its day. And that's ok. If we decide that it is not our motivation; not what defines us. To have life to the full we must let faith in hope and goodness have our lives and attention. That we rest in love so we have the courage to act boldly in pursuit of that which gives life. To fully grieve loss in order that the fullness of goodness has the fully tilled soil in our souls that it needs to prosper. And to grasp and engage those times of victory: Like this...

Love wins......