Marriage is an adventure; don’t go without your maps.
If you were going on a trip, especially to a place you’ve never been before, you’d take maps. When planning to be away from home for several days, you’d always check the weather to pack accordingly. You’d want to be prepared. As well as having intentions of how to get from one point to the next, and anticipate issues you may encounter.
Marriage needs to be treated the same way.
I feel like a lot of people get married thinking the wedding is the “finish line.” After all, you’re not dating anymore. Finally, you found your person. The search is over; the strain of chastity has ended. A long phase of your life has closed. But marriage is not an “ending.”
Marriage is not only the beginning of your new life, but it’s a continuation of your old one. Furthermore, conflicts and wounds from your dating relationship will not cease to exist. Every problem you’ve ever dealt with- from communication to intimacy- will intensify when your commitment does. You will have a whole new journey to navigate as you live together, blend your families, and start a new one.
Pack a map of your partner.
Engagement is the time to check the weather, look at routes, and pack a map of your partner. Pre-Cana is built to help you do all this. What are your expectations for your family and careers? Do you have issues with your families of origin? How do you separately approach finances? What do you need to prepare for in your marriage journey to reach the destination of Heaven?
