Promises promises

This morning, while walking my dogs, I noticed a poster on the lamp post. It's a favourite community place for sticking up planning applications, special birthdays of the "Guess who is 40" variety, and Lost Cat photographs. Today's picture showed a couple roaring with laughter. Their names were written underneath and the words 'Just Married' boldly across the top. A cause for celebration indeed.

How lovely that marriage is still a cause for celebration and worthy of community declaration, still held dear - even though it is paid for dearly. I find it interesting that among many of the most modern couples who co-habit, marriage is in their plans somewhere - often simply delayed by the cost factor, sadly.

And even more interesting - that many young women still want the bloke to propose. One young friend excitedly sent me a text recently - her boyfriend had produced a ring in a location of significance and even got down on one knee. Romance and Chivalry may be on their last legs but they are certainly not dead yet.

The Independent newspaper recently ran a series of articles on why marriage remains popular
and the journalist quotes various people who are amazed that anyone would choose to make promises that are binding unto death without any proper written conditions of contract. They have a point!

Most couples think that the church disapproves of co-habitation and are nervous of admitting to the Vicar that they live together. The truth is that we are well used to it, and most of us are simply happy that they have decided to take a step of commitment. At least they have an idea of what they are walking into...

Two of my more recent weddings have had nail biting moments, because the Bride has struggled to articulate the words of the vows. In both cases it wasn't because of doubts or second thoughts - but simply because they were aware of the enormity of the promises. Fortunately I had tissues handy and earnest, rock-steady grooms who were unruffled by the gulps but clearly moved by the emotions expressed by their 'almost wives' - a heartbeat away from being declared Husband and Wife together.

For me - the feeling of standing with them and guiding them through the declarations and vows, of clasping their hands together and symbolically wrapping them in God's love and watching the exchange of looks of pure love is breath taking. It is an undescribable privilege. Would I sign a contract binding me to do this until I die? Just hand me the pen.