We Do This Lest We Collapse in Defeat

"Life is difficult," begins the phenomenally popular book by M. Scott Peck: The Road Less Traveled. And how true! Plagued with bedlam and betrayal-- life is challenging, personally and globally. Little wonder we celebrate the happy moments. We simply must. Each person's joy buoys us all.

Last month I was fortunate to attend the Hindu celebration of a wedding engagement. My Christian religious tradition has no such ritual; so, this was a new experience for me. After considering the union of two families and the commitment of two individuals, this final segment of a three part Allvoices series considers the engagement party itself.

The video at the top of this page takes you right onto the dance floor with the couple and their guests. Celebrating the couple's commitment enlivened both family and friends that joyful evening. No matter the culture, emotions are equivalent when we regard the promise of shared love. We are happy for the two who have chosen each other. We remember our own commitment moments, our own beginnings. We find strength in this happiness and are ourselves re-empowered to take up the challenges life places before us.

There were some differences and some similarities in this event to weddings or other celebrations I've attended in the past. Specific details are in the images section of this report. To find those photos and my commentary, click on the tab "Images- 9" at the top of this page. If your time is limited, view just the minute-long dance scene above. It is both different, due to the Indian music and the women's beautiful sari's, and yet similar to any party dance I've attended.

We celebrate the good moments. We commemorate the losses. We are human. Life is difficult. We must come together in both the good and the ill to support one another.

We do this lest we collapse in defeat.

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This is the final segment in a series of three.

Part One: At a Hindu Betrothal Ceremony: Sharing my experience

Part Two: A Life Changing Moment

I gratefully thank the couple who generously allowed me to share these images from their engagement celebration evening.

Billie Greenwood