The world is a fascinating place. It’s full of fascinating perspectives, cultures and personal histories. We have national culture; racial culture, community culture and we have personal sub-cultures – the culture of our marriage and our families. Every marriage is different. Every relationship is different.
Each person brings something truly unique to his or her relationship. As no two people are exactly alike, nor are two marriages. Your marriage is not my marriage and his marriage is not her marriage.
What makes marriage so blessed? It’s not the sacraments or the vows; it’s the creation of a whole new sub-culture. It’s a wonder that we do not marvel at it more, after all, how fascinated are we by the development of other cultures and their beliefs. How does a belief system take root? How does a culture develop its rituals? How does a culture keep its history and tell its stories?
Look to your own marriage and you will find the answers to these questions. The roots of your sub-culture begin the day of the proposal. You share your beliefs and let them mingle together as you plan the wedding. On the day you exchange vows, you celebrate the first of the rituals that will define your new sub-culture.
During the honeymoon and first year of marriage, you will nurture the roots of this sub-culture and see the first blooms as you develop your routines, personal language, and division of labor, public relations initiatives and diplomatic relations with other sub-cultures. When you look at all of the components that make up the sub-culture of your marriage you will discover that you have created something more than you thought possible. When nurtured over the years, these sub-cultures can produce new populations that will in turn mingle and develop new sub-cultures of their own.
So take a moment to reflect on your personal sub-culture, celebrate it, embrace it and nurture it. It’s a wonderful gift to the culture of the world we all share with each other.