Last Saturday, my older brother Zack became a married man. I had the honor of being one of his groomsmen, and it was a privilege to play a role in such a beautiful ceremony. I have no doubt that everyone in attendance experienced some strong emotions. I can only imagine the adoration my brother felt seeing Kristen, his soon-to-be wife, walking down the aisle in radiant white, the release she felt when the final "I do" was spoken, or the pride my parents felt at the realization of the remarkable young man their son has grown up to be. Being the younger brother, yet old enough to deeply relate to the moment, I

was in a unique position which opened me up to a wide spectrum of feelings. So, in honor of my logophilic brother, here are three words that describe the effects the wedding had on me.

1. Veneration

One time not too long ago, my brother was talking to me about his inspirations, and I told him that he was one of my inspirations, which seemed to surprise him. My brother is one of the hardest working guys I know. He's kept the same strenuous job with long work days and awkward hours for three years. He exerts himself both physically at work and in the gym, as well as mentally when he writes music and poetry. He has a strong, problem-solving intuition, and the ability to apply higher-order logic skills to form solutions that others might not see as quickly. He has bought his own house and has now married the woman of his dreams. Not only is he on his way to fulfilling the "American dream," but he has found his happiness in what truly matters: serving God. My brother characterizes all of the things I hope to be, and as I watched him on his wedding day, I was reminded of this.

2. Nostalgia

Getting married was a huge leap forward in my brother's life. In contrast to this forward motion, the wedding had me looking back over the times Zack and I have shared. Although we didn't always get along, our childhoods were characterized by laughs, imaginative adventures, and brotherly shenanigans that ended with us being grounded more often than not. While our time together has certainly changed in form, it has by no means ceased. Today, we write music; discuss works of musical, visual, and written art; and, of course, waste precious hours of our lives in front of a television screen gripping Play Station controllers in our hands. Although we will continue to change, we will always remain brothers, one of the closest friendships there can be.

3. Vorfreude

Borrowed from German, my brother's favorite language, Vorfreude is a joyful anticipation of future pleasures. Watching Zack and Kristen as they gave their vows, it was obvious that they shared a love for each other that is hard to come by. I can only dream that I will one day share that with a woman of my own. It also puts a smile on my face to imagine the potential nieces and nephews that will come my way, and I am filled with excitement for a growing family.

I hope that my brother and his wife will live long, happy, goofy, and adventurous lives. I hope their time together will be as good as Zack's puns are bad. And I pray that they will keep their relationship and their lives centered on God. Congratulations, Zack and Kristen Smith.