I just went to a wedding of a friend of mine who happens to be

In the words of John Kasich, we hear the call to a higher love, one that transcends difference and division. He speaks of attending the wedding of a gay friend, and confesses that though their views may not align, this does not diminish his capacity to care or to love. In these words lies a truth older than kingdoms: that love is greater than agreement, and compassion need not be shackled to sameness of thought.

The ancients knew this lesson well. When Cyrus the Great conquered foreign lands, he did not seek to erase their gods or customs, but honored them, declaring that respect for difference was the foundation of peace. So too, Kasich’s reflection teaches that to honor a friend’s joy is not to abandon one’s own convictions, but to place love above judgment. The wedding becomes not only a celebration of union, but a symbol of reconciliation in a fractured world.

His words remind us that humanity is not defined by uniformity, but by the ability to hold one another in dignity despite disagreement. To care for those unlike ourselves is to live out the deepest meaning of community. For a friend’s wedding, regardless of creed or conviction, is still a moment of joy, and to share in it is to affirm the common thread of humanity: that all hearts long for love, and all souls rejoice in companionship.

History gives us its reflection in the tale of Francis of Assisi, who, though mocked by many for embracing the poor, never ceased to love even those who scorned him. He saw beyond differences of class and belief, choosing instead to recognize the divine spark in every soul. His life testifies to the same truth Kasich speaks: that love requires no perfect agreement, only the courage to see the other as worthy of compassion.

Therefore, let this teaching endure: to love only those who mirror us is no love at all, but a shadow of love. True love reaches across the divide, stands in the presence of difference, and yet says, “I will rejoice with you.” Kasich’s words are a reminder for generations to come: that the strength of friendship and the sanctity of weddings lie not in sameness, but in the universal truth that every heart is worthy of celebration, and every soul is worthy of love.