VOWS & COMMITTMENT

Captain Ed points to a troubling story

Sometimes And Whenever

Fox News reports this morning on a trend in weddings that not only demonstrates the slide away from commitment in our culture, but the erosion of confidence in what used to provide the apex of optimism in the confluence of private and community living. Instead of vowing to remain together "until death do us part," nuptials now include such tenuous promises as "until our time together is over":

Vows like "For as long as we continue to love each other," "For as long as our love shall last" and "Until our time together is over" are increasingly replacing the traditional to-the-grave vow; a switch that some call realistic and others call a recipe for failure.

"We're hearing that a lot; 'as long as our love shall last.' I personally think it's quite a statement on today's times; people know the odds of divorce," said New Jersey wedding expert Sharon Naylor, author of "Your Special Wedding Vows," who adds that the rephrasing is also part of a more general trend toward personalizing vows.

It's not that marriage isn't hard; it is. It's not that marriage can be perfect; it can't. It is that a vow before God and man should mean something. And this vow, not a contract, has the power to overcome differences and adversity and bring great blessings in the course of a lifetime. Making and keeping vows; the proof of wisdom and maturity. JB