SimonSimple

Hi People

Last year I discharged my obligation as a licensed solemnizer (for the ROM - Registry of Marriages) by performing ONE single wedding ceremony. The first half of this year I got bold and performed TWO wedding ceremonies - including one on Valentine’s Day. For the second half of this year I became bolder and promised myself that I should take on more duties.

Thus far I have done one on 07/07, 08/08, 09/09 and of course 20.09.2009! By year’s end I would have done a total of 15 for the second half of this year. My requirements are quite stringent. Usually the couple must be known to me. Then they have to meet up with me for one hour before I would agree to officiate at their wedding. If I have my ‘rathers’ I would prefer that the couple attend a Marriage Preparation Course before I would say ‘Yes’ to them. But since this is not a perfect world I thought at least they can benefit from a one hour crash course on marriage preparation - it’s a case of ’something is better than nothing’.

Come to think of it, people are willing to spend some S$2,000 and many hours of driving instruction to get the coveted driving licence and yet all it takes is S$26 to get their marriage licence. What a paradox! In fact couples easily mouth the “I do’ and “I will” thinking these are short sentences but yet they will be serving the longest sentences of their lives - that is if they believe in the institution of marriage. A couple should go into a marriage without an escape clause - “Divorce is NOT an option” should be their mantra - and work through the many irritations and challenges of a married life.

There is a joke that goes like this - before you get married, open both eyes to choose your life partner carefully & wisely. After you have gotten married, close one eye (and sometimes two) when you see the faults in one another.

Remember, marriage is not a contract for happiness but a covenant of belonging. Marriage is not a 100 metre dash but a marathon. Run the race of your life.