I didn’t expect much, judging from the book cover (yes, we all do, even though we shouldn’t, judge a book by its cover). The author’s name was unfamiliar, and the title wasn’t catchy.
But the book surprised me. It got me thinking; it challenged my own ideas.
Jerusha Clark identifies common myths--some so common they almost sound silly; I know that I for one responded like, “Of course I know that’s a marriage myth, I’m too intelligent to get sold on that stuff from the movies!”
But then Jerusha explores the myths with original insight that made me see that, at the back of my mind, I have been taken in by these myths—hook, line, and sinker. She helped me see the gravity of the “When I Get Married…” ideas I have subscribed to (willingly or not!), and made me realize my need for God’s grace to shift my perspective.
Some of the wrong ideas that struck me were: When I get married, I’ll never be lonely; sex won’t be a problem; I’ll know what to do with my life.
The learnings are fresh, the ideas flow naturally. But more than insightful, it’s a well-crafted book. The writing is beautiful, in some parts even lyrical.
This is a good tool for singles and about-to-weds, but take care not to intellectualize marriage too much. I think you need to balance book learnings and head knowledge with a lot of God’s grace found in experiencing the daily grind of married life, and sensitivity to the Holy Spirit’s leading in marriage.