The Sadness of Divorce: Some Quotes from The Guardian

Several years ago, The Guardian printed some anecdotes from readers about the break-ups of their marriages. To say the stories were wide-ranging would understate things hugely. Recollections ran the spectrum from celebratory to matter-of-fact to heartbreaking.

One reader, a middle-aged Irish woman named Enda, practically exulted. “While I was totally knocked sideways by my husband’s unexpected departure, I came to realise that the situation presented an opportunity for me to focus on me and my own dreams. I moved back to Ireland from the UK, opened my chocolate business here, bought a house in the country, and I’ve never been happier … All my dramas are my own, not his. All my successes are my own, not his. All my happiness is my own, not his. My divorce has allowed me to arrive in my own life – and stay here comfortably with a smile on my face and a sense of gratefulness for my health, my happiness and my dream.”

Another divorcee, American-born Theresa, was more straightforward. “We mailed out a ‘divorce announcement’ card. The cover read, ‘To let you know that we have a new life apart …’ The picture was of two ships, one named ‘me’, the other ‘you’, traveling in different directions with a breaching whale between the two. The back of the card read, ‘What we call the beginning is often the end. And to make an end is to make a beginning. The end is where we start from.’ Reception to the card was mixed.”

And then came the sad experience of a young British woman who wished to remain anonymous: “I got divorced earlier this year after two years of marriage. For me, it came really out of the blue. My husband came home one night and told me that he had fallen in love with someone else; when I asked him if our marriage was over, he said, ‘Yes.’ And that was it. My parents came and picked me up and took me home. He moved in with her one week later. Finding out he had been unfaithful was a very surreal moment. He was the last person you’d expect to do that, and it sent shockwaves through our family…”

Your thoughts?

 

Time for a Provocative Commercial (Zillow and family)

Friends:  Please watch the following commercial carefully:

Here’s the script for this commercial:

“It’s not your standard family situation — it’s just me and my four daughters.  There’s a lot of dancing and pageants that go on in our kitchens and living rooms and things like that.  I’ve had to learn to accept certain things — like the fact that my toenails and fingernails are going to be painted constantly.  But it’s really awesome to watch them at their own things.  They’re great kids — all of ‘em.”

A dad.  Alone with his four daughters.  Where is the mom?

I’d like to think that maybe he is a widower. More than likely, this is a divorced family.  How incredibly sad.

Christians!  We MUST model a Christ-centered home to fight the all-too-common divorce disease plaguing our world!

Your comments?

 

Why God Hates Divorce!

“Bold, please.  And leave room for cream, Contrina.  Thanks!”  My weekly trek to Starbucks usually began with these words.  I had my visit down to a science.  I would bring my own travel mug (saving ten cents for every fill-up) and exchange an empty Starbucks bag for a free grande cup of coffee.  My only other expense was for a slice of their high-carb, don’t-tell-the-wife, pumpkin loaf.

Contrina was always very friendly, sometimes asking me about my early morning Bible study with a friend of mine on Wednesdays.  “I haven’t seen him in a while,” she said.

“Yes, he’s been kind of busy,” I replied.  I didn’t think she needed to know that my friend (we’ll call him Mike) was in a bad time of his life, apparently not wanting to pursue our discipleship study.

“We just celebrated our 42nd wedding anniversary yesterday,” I told Contrina.  When I’ve told others, I’ve usually added, “Yea.  Forty-two years of marital bliss.  Forty-one for her and one for me.  And mine wasn’t all in a row.  You know, a few days here and a few days there.”  It didn’t look like Contrina needed me to say that 2nd part.

“That’s great,” she said.  “I’ve been divorced for sixteen years.”  “I’m so sorry,” I said.  “Do you mind if I ask what happened?”

Contrina thought for a moment and said, “He just found someone younger than me — and prettier, I guess.”  “Contrina,” I said, “I am so sorry.  I’m sure that was — and is — very painful.”

“Yes,” she said.  “He ran off with a woman younger than our daughter.”

Such a sad story, I thought as she waited on another customer.  No wonder God hates divorce!

You know that 43% of all statistics are made up, right?  The stats on divorce these days are upsetting, including those related to “Christian” marriages.  How God must be grieved!

A couple of questions occur to me.  I’d love to get your comments.

Questions:

1.  How are we Christians to serve and minister to those who have gone through one or two or three failed marriages?

2.  Who do you know whose story, perhaps about a heart-breaking divorce, they would share with you if you only took the time to listen?

3.  Aren’t you glad Jesus doesn’t divorce His bride (the church), even though we’ve deserved it many times over!

 

DIVORCE! Another student paper . . .

One of the courses I taught this semester is entitled “Theological Methods and Issues.”  This was a weekend course, meaning that it met one weekend a month for four months.  We discussed all kinds of theological topics and the students produced two major research papers.  One was on a cultural issue (such as gun control in North America); the other on a global issue (such as theological factors in global poverty).

Some of the papers were outstanding and I’ve encouraged the students to seek publication.  I will be sharing some of those papers on this blog.

Please take the time to read these papers.  You will be challenged and encouraged in your walk with Christ!

The second paper I’m posting is on the volatile issue of DIVORCE.  [Bear in mind that my posting these papers does not necessarily mean I agree with their conclusions.]  Please click on the underlined word below to read this paper; feel free to post your comments which I will pass on to the student researchers.

DIVORCE —