Marriage...

Okay, I know it's coming out now because I'm watching the Bridges of Madison County, but this is something that I've really been thinking about for a while now. I don't mean to offend anyone in asking this question.

How can anyone honestly say to a person, "Not only will I love you forever, but you will be the only person I will ever love this much or in this way." That's hopefully what people are saying when they get married, right? And not just that, of course, but also "I will commit to you, be devoted to you, and put you before myself in every decision I make."

I truly want to know... how can anyone ever guarantee all of that? There's no way one could possibly know for sure, right?

I mean, I realize that marriage is saying "forsaking all others"... so I guess it's kinda open to the possibility, but you're saying if, on the off chance (because you're not going to be looking for love anywhere else), it happened and you actually fell in love with someone else, you would forsake them... you would deny them and remember your love for your spouse and that's it. Right? And I understand how that can be a beautiful, honorable commitment thing and probably be well worth forsaking others because it's unlikely that you'll ever fall in love with someone else more, hopefully.

However, life is unpredictable. You never really know what's going to happen next. And wouldn't it be a tremendous shame to meet the love of your life and have to forsake them because of a decision you made in the past?

sigh... I get that marriage could be wonderful. But there is always that chance, when you get married, that it won't be. And that is a tremendous gamble, if you don't ever intend to get divorced. Which, of course, one should never get married because they know that if it doesn't work out, divorce is always there. Right?

Don't get me wrong, I've had my experience with divorce, and it can be, and I venture to say it usually is, a WONDERFUL thing in the lives of these two people. However, no one starts a marriage wanting to get divorced. So, if in your head, divorce isn't an option for you... how can anyone honestly say... "for better or worse", and truly truly mean that?? I understand that it's a truly selfless thing to live life for someone else, and the only way to truly love anyone. However, it seems that if you don't truly love them for the rest of your life, you would just end up resenting them for that. Plus, if you fall in love with someone else, and feel trapped... then you probably aren't emotionally prepared to take care of anybody else. Right?

Am I making any sense at all? sigh.