My Dream Wedding By John Shelby Spong - 1055 Words

When I was in high school I was told that by the time I was an adult almost everyone I knew would be divorced. Although I had a few family members who had divorced around that time I was still incredulous. Growing up I never fantasized about my â€Å"dream wedding†, but I did vow that divorce would not be an option if I ever got married. In an ironic twist of fate, I wound up getting divorced shortly after a year of getting married. John Shelby Spong discusses the impact of a liturgical service to mark the end of a marriage. Would it encourage people to get a divorce or rather bring closure to both parties? After attending such a service, Spong was able to leave with many impressions as to why a liturgical service is beneficial. First and foremost â€Å"pain and death are present in divorce for both the husband and the wife, whether acknowledged liturgically or not.† (Spong, 1988, p. 192) Soon after my divorce, I was bombarded with words of advice and platitudes. More o ften than not, my feelings were invalidated because I was â€Å"only married for a year†, thus there was no way I could be so hurt by my divorce. People do not seem to understand that, regardless of how long you were married, a divorce does signify death. For whatever reason, the relationship has died and with it the hopes and dreams you once had of a life together. That pain and heartbreak will be there no matter what. Spong writes that â€Å"it takes courage, maturity, and a willingness to endure enormous vulnerability to