A Union at the Dirt Church
- Ben Mazur
- 15 hours ago
- 3 min read
Officiating a wedding wasn’t part of the plan, but standing there, it was hard not to see the parallels between love and the trail.
In the past four months, I’ve officiated a wedding. Actually... two.
Which still feels a little strange to say out loud.
I got ordained through the Universal Life Church for the first one, because the couple asked, and they were trail runners, of course. The kind of people whose lives already mirror the sport whether they realize it or not.
While I worked on "my sermon", it hit me how much overlap there really is.
Their relationship, like the trail, isn’t built on smooth footing. It’s steep climbs, uneven ground, changing conditions. Some days everything clicks. Other days, you’re just putting one foot in front of the other and trusting it’ll make sense again.
But it’s also the good stuff.
The quiet moments. The views you only get because you worked for them. The understanding that the struggle is part of the point and not something to avoid, but something that gives everything else meaning.
Just like a trail, the path they’re choosing isn’t straight or predictable. It winds. It doubles back. It throws in a few surprises.
But it moves forward.
And the important part: the part that matters more than anything else is is that they’re choosing to move through it together.
With trust. With grit. With patience.
And the shared belief that whatever the terrain looks like ahead…
…it’s better when you get there side by side.
Below: My "sermon" at the Stephanie and Carl wedding.
Good evening, everyone — and Happy New Year’s Eve! We are here on the final day of the year to celebrate something that doesn’t expire at midnight: the love between Stephanie and Carl.
Tonight is about fresh starts, big feelings, commitment, laughter, and maybe just a tiny bit of chaos — because if you know these two, you know their relationship has the energy of a trail race: joyful, unpredictable, occasionally uphill, but always worth it.
Stephanie and Carl want to thank you all for being here tonight. Whether you traveled near or far, you are their people — their crew, their support team, their family. You are the ones who cheer them on and love them well. They couldn’t imagine this moment without you.
I first met Stephanie and Carl on the trails—two runners whose lives mirror the sport they love. Together, they’ve faced long climbs that tested their patience, rocky descents that demanded trust, and weather that refused to cooperate. Sometimes one pulled ahead, sometimes one slowed to wait, but they always checked over their shoulder to make sure the other was still there. They’ve shared quiet miles where no words were needed, and tough stretches where encouragement mattered more than pace.
Like any good trail, the path they’re choosing today won’t always be smooth or clearly marked. There will be moments of fatigue, wrong turns, and the occasional “Are we sure this is the right way?” But there will also be summits, laughter, shared breaks, and the deep satisfaction of knowing that whatever the terrain, they’re running it together—side by side, committed to the journey rather than just the finish.
Stephanie, do you promise to love Carl, support his dreams, laugh with him, cry with him, hand him snacks when he’s cranky, stay beside him when the trail feels steep, celebrate the miles that feel easy, and never DNF this marriage?
Carl, do you promise to love Stephanie, support her dreams, be her anchor, teammate, biggest fan, emergency snack supplier, adventure partner, and safe place — and to never, ever let Stephanie get lost, on the trail or in life — always helping her find joy, direction, and home together?
Carl… Stephanie, you each prepared your own vows…
Rings are a symbol of commitment — like a never-ending trail loop, except this one is full of joy, laughter, and love instead of twisted ankles on rocks.
Stephanie, place the ring and repeat: With this ring, I choose you — today, tomorrow, and in every mile ahead.
Carl, place the ring and repeat: With this ring, I choose you — today, tomorrow, and in every mile ahead.
Since it is New Year’s Eve… let’s seal this in true New Year’s fashion with a countdown…Everyone together…5… 4… 3… 2… 1… 🎇
YOU MAY KISS YOUR PERSON!
NOW EVERYONE — RAISE YOUR GLASS! 🥂
To love, to adventure, and to every mile ahead — To Stephanie and Carl! CHEERS!
By the power vested in me, by the Universal Life Church and by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, I now pronounce you husband and wife.
Family and friends… for the very first time… ✨ THE LEERS! ✨
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