The Mystery of Marriage: Meditations on the Miracle is a book that I read probably back in 1999, or 2000, after I was required to do a book report for one of my family counseling classes in seminary. This book was one of a handful of books recommended by my professor, and at the time I thought, well, I’m interested in marriage, at least at some point in my life, so I might as well start reading now.
What attracted me initially to the book was the title. It wasn’t a self-help style book, or here is “seven steps to a great marriage”, or the “ten things you better do before you say I do, or else your marriage is doomed”…type of book. Instead it was simple:
The Mystery of Marriage
I liked that, because for all I knew from experience at the time was that women were definitely a mystery at times, as men could be as well, and if God could bring two people together in marriage, it was definitely a mystery that could not be reduced to simple steps. It was also a miracle, hence why Mike Mason meditates on it. Meditation conjures up the idea of something that takes patience, work, concentration, etc…you don’t think of ten easy steps, or eight sure fail rules, when the word meditation is in the mix.
And his table of contents was very different than any table of contents I have ever read concerning books on marriage. Short. Simple. Mysterious. Here is the table of contents.
Foreword
Preface
Prologue
Otherness
Love
Intimacy
Vows
Sex
Submission
Death
Epilogue
The Lover’s Hermitage
I think this is the best book of all the books I have read on this topic. It is beautifully written, and Mason does a great job of exploring difficult themes in marriage, while maintaining a sense of mystery, and not talking things to death, or laying them out in steps. So if you aren’t into easy steps, this is a great book for you.
And for those of you who are single, or who think they are light years away from marriage, I found this book to be a great prepping tool before marriage. Mason gives great insight into the single mind, and the struggle one has, and the desire one has to be single, yet also to be married. It is a great read.
Have you read this book before? What did you think of it?
