The Question of Divorce

The world’s attitude toward the separation of two people who have been lawfully wedded has varied greatly with time and with place, and still does. But no matter how widely differing may be the laws toward divorce, in our generation there has been an alarming laxity of attitude toward broken marriages, broken homes, broken families. Perhaps most men would be willing to concede that there are some serious causes which seem to suggest that people who have once been wedded go their separate ways. But it also must be admitted that to the real causes there have been added many superficial causes which cater to the whims and to the quick changes of mind and of heart of those who lightly consider and flagrantly abuse the obligations and privileges of marriage. Often the person who seeks divorce as the way out, has supposed that others who are married do not have adjustments to make, or sacrifices, or compromises of personal privilege. But never would we find a man and a woman whose thoughts and preferences were so alike as to require that neither of them give up anything for the privilege of pursuing life together. Too many who request a termination of their marital vows imagine that heir errors of understanding would, with someone else, unquestionably solve themselves. But those who cannot make their peace with one partner in marriage have no positive assurance that they can make their peace with any partner in marriage, because often those who seek separation suppose that others are wholly the cause of contention, whereas they themselves may be at least in part responsible. There have been many hasty marriages, but let not that mean that there should be hasty divorce. Too often a divorce means running away from problems rather than solving them. Let those who have rushed in take time to become acquainted and to work out their problems together. The relationship of marriage is sacred, and if it were not, there would be little of sacredness in life. It is more than a legal contract; it is a solemn covenant which affects not only the lives of two people, but also the whole social pattern of the present, and the lives of the generation to come. The strength of a nation depends upon the stability of its homes. Easy divorce tends to undermine that strength without putting anything in its place. But, on the personal side of the question again: Admittedly there may be exceptions to all these generalizations, but, admittedly also, running away from things is seldom the final solution to any problem.