Roots
May 2, 2009
Saturday afternoon found me in the back pew of a church, along with a nervous wife, a rather large duffel bag full of camera lenses, and Jimmy.
My wife was once an accomplished photographer. Weddings, reunions, senior pictures, and whatnot. And though she continues to snap a few pictures (see both my profile and header shots), two children, one semi-adolescent husband, and a teaching career now take up most of her time. But when a friend called and wanted to know if my wife would be willing to shoot her wedding, she said yes. Absolutely.
I usually accompany my wife on this sort of adventure. She says she needed me there for support and guidance, but in reality all I was good for was watching over her camera bag and putting whatever film she tossed me into my pocket for safe keeping.
Not that I minded. I was glad she thought she needed me there, even if she didn’t. Because weddings were nice. Lots of joy and love. Lots of promise and hope. Just the sort of things this world needed more of these days.
I was sitting in the back pew just before the service began when an elderly man in a navy blue suit sidled up and stuck out a hand.
“How ya doin’, buddy?” he asked.
“Just fine, sir. You?”
“Well, I’ll be better once I get outta this monkey suit an’ into a can of Copenhagen. You don’t have any Copenhagen on ya, son?”
“Sorry,” I smiled. “Left it in the truck.”
“Ah,” he waved, “don’t need the stuff anyways. Least that’s what my wife says. Name’s Jimmy.”
“Nice to meet you, Jimmy. I’m Billy.”
“Likewise.”
He sat down beside me and fidgeted with his tie. “Never could get used to these things,” he said. “Always felt like I was hangin’ myself. You here for the groom or the bride?”
“Neither,” I said. “I’m here for the photographer. You?”
“Either/or, I reckon. Knowed ‘em all my life. They’re good kids, the both of ‘em.”
“They sure are. Love each other, too.”
“Yep,” Jimmy said. “No doubt about that. That’s why they’re here, huh?”
“I’d imagine so,” I agreed.
“Seen a lotta fellas and their gals get married in this church. They all loved each other, every one. Course, lot of ‘em aren’t married anymore.”
I nodded. “Happens a lot these days, doesn’t it?”
“Too much, son. Too much. Know why?”
“Tell me.”
“’Cause they think what they felt on their wedding day is what they’d always feel. That love conquers all.”
“Love doesn’t conquer all?” I asked.
Jimmy shook his head and smiled. “Nah. It covers a multitude of sins, the Book says. And it’s sure enough greater than faith an’ hope put together. But since I’ve seen plenty of things that conquered love, I can’t say love conquers all.”
“What’d you see conquer love?”
“Well,” he sighed. “Time, for one. And selfishness. Sin. Anger.”
“Guess you’re right,” I said.
“Wish I weren’t, son.”
“So how do some people stay together and other people drift apart?”
Jimmy thought a bit then said, “Yesterday I was out mowin’ the yard and I saw that my wife’s lilies had bloomed. She loves her lilies, you know. So I bent down and snapped a few off, put ‘em in a mason jar, and sat the whole thing on the kitchen table for her. Got a peck on the cheek for my trouble, too.”
I smiled.
“But this morning when we got up, those flowers were already starting to wilt. Know why?”
“Why?”
“No root. They had water and sunshine, but they couldn’t live long without their roots. Something to dig deep into and hang on against the wind and the rain. Those people who walked outta here man and wife but ain’t no longer? They had sunshine and water, too. But they didn’t have any roots. And when the winds and rains came, they just wilted and died.”
“Roots, huh?”
“Roots. Two people can love each other, but that ain’t enough. Not in this world. But two people who love each other and love God? Son, that’s enough and then some. You both dig deep into Him and the storms might shake you, but they can never kill you. Understand?”
“Understood.”
Jimmy looked at his watch and smiled. “Well, looks like things are ‘bout ready to start. Nice to meet you, Billy. You seem like a good guy.”
“And you seem to know what you’re talking about, Jimmy.”
He rose and laughed. “I’d better,” he said. “I’m the one marryin’ ‘em.”
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34 Responses to “Roots”
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I’m a writer whose first novel, Snow Day, will be published by FaithWords in 2010.
But don’t let that fool you. I’m just as confused as anyone.
And that is fine with me, because the great thing about wandering around in the fog is that you never know what you might run into.
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Awww… that was lovely!
wonderful! you always find the best stories, billy!
and, my hat is off to your wife…she is a brave soul to photograph a wedding! i did it once at the request of a friend (for her son’s wedding) and it was one of the most stressful things i had done!! you don’t get ‘do overs’ and this is a one-time event (if the couple has those roots!)… a bit of pressure, to say the least!
Your writing grips me to the very end!
Jimmy is a wise man.
“Cause they think what they felt on their wedding day is what they’d always feel. That love conquers all.”
As one who is almost 26 years from that June day, I can attest it isn’t always smiles and flowers but I am grateful we have roots.
Shalom,
Denise
Another excellent entry, Billy. I’m glad my wife pointed me to your blog. I’ve really enjoyed reading it these past three days. God bless you, Billy.
Oh, Billy – this is wonderfully wise. What a blessed afternoon you had, and bless you for sharing it with us.
So many times I’ve said, “Love trumps all.” You startled me with the words, “plenty of things conquer love.”
Why, Billy? Why do time and selfishness and anger conquer love? That’s just not right. Love trumps all—I know it does. How can this be that anything should trump love?
God is love. And nothing trumps God, right? Maybe sin is God’s way of letting humans share His power, so we have to choose for love to win.
There’s no greater love than what God did one day on a hill called Calvary. That kind of love conquers even the sin that can conquer human love. That’s the love that never fails.
Great story, told well.
I’m two weeks away from marrying my first son off. I’m terrified for them, yet also very excited. The statistics are frightening, especially for that generation. I’m praying they see how deep our roots have grown and become intertwined through 35 years of love, crisis and pain, how God has always been our #1, and that growing old with each other is the best gift you can give your children.
Ron Burgundy wouldn’t cut the flowers and bring them in to me, but he might come in, grab my hand, and take me out to see them. He knows my love language. And he knows not to cut my flowers
Another great post, Billy. Bless you!
Billy,
That is a beautiful story! I had a feeling he was the one marrying them
AMEN!
Roots of an oak tree are needed today! Roots not in ourselves but deeply rooted in God’s love and truths. Roots that run deep in His living water that never runs dry!
Simply beautiful! Isn’t God amazing how He blesses us with these moments to restore our hope, peace and joy!??
Blessings,
Jill
You have a real gift for dialogue!A great character study, and I loved the last line.
I bet Jimmy is quite a character. In a good way. I like people like that.
Billy, you rock the writing gig.
Jimmy’s a pretty wise man… His wisdom also applies to my relationship with God. I’ve got to sink my roots down deep into Christ, or else I’ll wilt and die. That’s a profound reminder on this Sunday morning.
Thanks for the share, Billy!
Wisdom, What an incredible blessing…
I can picture that photographers’s “semi-adolescent husband” who has a great ability though to write about ordinary things and always turn them into masterpieces.
Just like us, if rooted in God’s love, then we’ll be able to understand how wide, how long, how deep, how high the love of Christ is.
God bless and have a great Sunday!
Your posts always get to me, Billy! This one is particularly beautiful. I always look forward to seeing those last lines…great job!
Blessings,
Beth
I love the fact that you listen to people. That is really, really cool. (and the older folks always got somethin’ to say, don’t they? LOL)
Great story brother!
What a neat sotry! So you got to chat with the preacher man. And learned something along the way… but I suspect you already knew it anyway.
Dang! I should have asked Jimmy to guest blog for me. Oh, well. Live and learn.
Yes…another lump has formed in my throat and tears have welled up in my eyes. I don’t know how you do it, but you manage to move me everytime! THANK YOU!!!
God has given you such talent my friend. I am amazed each time I read!
Billy,
Ah…this is beautiful. By the way, your wife does a lovely job on the photos. I like all of them, the one on the header, and you in the hat on the chair. You have a great smile!
That minister…Jimmy…so right-on.
Blessings,
~Amy
I didn’t see that coming.
Good job.
Loved it!
For the longest time my marriage was in a mason jar filled with water but now, it’s planted in the Kingdom’s garden.
Nice surprise at the end.
That’s an awesome story, Billy. I’m doing a wedding in a couple of weeks, and I’m nowhere near that cool!
You writings, well…I’m just going to say it…ARE AWESOME! You have a love for the Lord, embracing life through His eyes and letting it flow through your pen here, or I should say…the keyboard. Sometimes I sit here and chuckle through some and then I get towards the middle and on to the end and there is always something to take home in the heart.
God bless you.
Blessings,
Allelluiabelle
Billy,
You know who you remind me of? Huell Howser! He is a great man who hosts a PBS show called California’s Gold.
Now you aren’t quite as old as him, not by 50 or so years, but you have a way of making people feel that whatever story that they share with you, is better than what you were there for to begin with.
You gave Jimmy, time. One of the most valuable things we can give, as well as an ear to listen and heart to share it with all of us.
Well done, once again. Something lasting that you leave us with today!
((Applause)) ~ Standing ovation from me!
Love and Hugs ~ Kat
OMG, that ending completely took me off guard….didn’t expect that!
Funny how my yard work post and your ‘Roots’ post are both touching on the lawn and it needing to stay healthy….
Great post. Very nice.
You remind me of my brother; very polite, proper, easy to agree with (except for the post about the poor little boy you debated with at the toy store with the meaning of ‘Take One’. LOL)
in such a way to get the conversation more engaging, to seek someone else’s input.
I wonder do you ever have a bad day, one where you just vent it all out and lose it?
That’s so awesome your wife was an awesome photgrapher because that is so much what I desire to do. In fact I am hoping to design my new custom website just for this alone with my Nikon. I’m so excited!!!
Okay; I went off topic….anywho, great post. Love it and I’m sure your wife did a great job at her photo’s. Ask her to get in touch with me if you can….I’d like to ask her questions if she’d be so kind to answer….I’m just a beginner! She’s probably a huge pro!
Your Friend,
Sarah
Perfect. You find metaphors to explain the unexplainable. With roots–and staying connected to the vine–we can weather all trials. Thanks so much for a beautiful story.
Thanks, as always, for leaving such encouraging comments on my blog. Really and truly.
I think it is interesting how God is speaking the same things to His people at the same time. My pastor just spoke today on Jeremiah 17, about how our roots have to go down deep in order for the tree to be able to withstand what comes its way and still be standing bearing the fruit it is supposed to. Then he used Ephesians 3 to show us that Paul prayed that we would be rooted in His love.
Wow! we are to be rooted in HIS LOVE to be able to withstand what comes our way and still be able to bear His fruit of love in our lives.
God is so good!
We can hear those verses over and over again from 1 Corinthians 13 about Love — especially at weddings — and in the hearing and rehearing, we can sort of forget what’s really being said.
Without love, we’re no better than a clanging cymbal. We are nothing — NOTHING — without love. And love, of course, is rooted in God.
Thanks for another eye-opening post.
I’m trying to think of something clever but coming up blank.
This is a real winner of a story…I kept waiting for the punchline…wow. You really got me in the end!
Your blog never fails to bless me Billy
Fantastic story, Billy. Thank you for giving me a smile. I needed it.