Marriage is Like a Trip to Hawaii
It was once explained to me that marriage is like a family trip to Hawaii. The irony is when I heard this I was on my way to Germany so I borrowed a few tapes from a friend to make the eight hour flight tolerable. This enlightenment immediately grabbed my attention, not because it was witty or clever but my curiosity of how does a trip to Hawaii pertain to marriage.
Of course, like marriage, a trip to a tropical paradise requires a certain amount of preparation that has to be done beforehand. The vacation-bound family must first set a date that is convenient to all. Choosing the optimum time of the year to receive the best bargain for this journey is always good advice.
Next, for health purposes someone must ensure that all lotions are purchased and packed. Since weather conditions, hot and humid, are a known factor the proper attire is imperative. Therefore, shirts, shorts, sun visors, flip flop shoes, and sunglasses will be needed. Now all the preparations have been made and the family departs by flight to the beautiful island of Hawaii. Everyone is happy and relaxed, and looking forward to the event.
Suddenly, the pilot sends a message over the speaker, “the plane must land due to mechanical failure.” The pilot further states, “we must land immediately to avoid any incident.” The happy family now bewildered and stunned has now a feeling of inadequacy. Like a married couple after the honeymoon, what happens next?
Without delay the plane sets down safely and a feeling of relief is felt by the crew, passengers and family. Everyone is thankful. But there remains a question in every one’s mind, “Where have we landed?”
The family runs to the cock pit and asks the pilot where are we? Immediately, the pilot stands up puts on his leather aviator hat and tying up its flaps with a sigh says, “Alaska”.
As the family exits the plane the realization of Alaska versus Hawaii physically sets in. One-by-one each family member begins to shiver and as a family they begin to huddle together because of the wintry cold. Then, realizing his dilemma the father remembers that he brought a jacket. The mother thought about the blanket she brought for the beach. The family began to do something that is imperative in all marriages and that is to “adapt.”
The fantasy of marriage is a great condo, great husband, great cars and great kids. The reality is you don’t know a person until you live with them. The reality is the marriage was like Hawaii in the beginning and each year it keeps getting colder. What can we do? We must adapt, we must make changes. We have to change ourselves and our lifestyles to make the marriage work. The Bile explains; “Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. This passage of scripture reveals to husbands and wives that Christ gave everything to the Church; to include his life. Another definition of Adapt is to adjust and we know that Christ made many adjustments that we might be saved. God is asking us in our marriage to adapt, adjust, and make changes, so that our marriage can be a representative of what Christ did for us on the cross. Christ said a few words that changed the world. If we obey these words adapting or changing our marriage will become our purpose and our marriage will be successful.
I will conclude these words from Jesus. Someone said to Jesus, “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’