It seems almost oxymoronic to believe that this new idealism has led to a new pessimism about marriage, but that is exactly what has happened. In generations past there was far less talk about "compatibility" and finding the ideal soul mate. Today we are looking for someone who accepts us as we are and fulfills our desires, and this creates an unrealistic set of expectations that frustrates both the searchers and the searched for.

The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God (ed. Penguin, 2011) - ISBN: 9781101548042