Is the making of a commitment a way to a richer and more fulfilling life or a walk down the primrose path? With a future that is always uncertain, how can a person enter into a lifelong commitment, and, indeed, should anyone say forever? Making commitments is regarded as a dubious enterprise by many who place a higher priority on always keeping their options open. Yet there is the lived experience of people past and present who claim that to be truly alive, one must be rooted through commitment.
The author shares with the reader his own investigation in the nature of commitment and its value in today’s world. He suggests that we approach commitments carefully and with a willingness to accept mistakes, misunderstanding, and possible mutual hardship. From this there can arise genuine companionship and communion, but this is only possible when we can distinguish the vital pains of growth from those of sheer incompatibility. This book presents some of the real alternatives for Christian living, illustrating them through the lives of Christ, Mary and St. Paul. It will be welcome reading for all those who seek the fulfillment of involvement and wonder how, in this often turbulent and troubling age, they can create relationships that will succeed and endure.