We've been married 41 years. Not only does Carolyn aver that. My own extensive math skills confirm it. At least after a misstep or two.
When did we actually become one? In thought and purpose? In feeling and perception? Or, at least, if not exactly one, where there may be differences, when did the other's become OK, too? When did I first look at her and feel overwhelmingly grateful for the shear love I felt for her? For God's having put us together?
It wasn't 41 years ago, that's for sure. We were both much too self-centered then and saw our joining as a means of satisfying our own personal needs – needs for companionship, for completion in a world that demanded marriage unification, for fitting together like pieces of a puzzle – spiritually, emotionally, intellectually, and physically.
But it wasn't that recent, either. It wasn't this year. Perhaps not even this decade. Or even this double decade.
Never the less, this year it probably reached its zenith – so far, at least.
The Sunday afternoon before my big cancer surgery, we sat together on the love-seat in the living room as close as we could get, acutely aware that our remaining time of unity on this earth may be measured in a small number of months. We started talking and found that we were finishing each other's sentences, “yes, and...” “yes, and...” and discovering that we had the same thoughts, the same perceptions, the same emotions, the same large set of questions, the same small set of answers. A stream of consciousness flowed in, through, and around us enveloping us in common awareness, and to paraphrase a sentence out of “Return with Honor,” it was as though every cell in our bodies was resonating at the frequency of love. We were understanding with a single mind, loving with a single heart.
It was an afternoon I will never forget.
What's left over from that experience is that I can no longer conceive of Exaltation without that relationship with Carolyn on an on-going, permanent basis.
Understanding with a single mind.
Loving with a single heart.
And being grateful....
Sunday
9 years ago
1 comment:
That was so sweet Dad!! It warms my heart hearing about the love that my parents share. You two have been THE example to me of how a proper marriage/relationship should be. If Jeff and I have even a fraction of the length of time and success in marriage that you two have had I will consider us lucky and blessed. Happy Anniversary to the both of you!!
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