Note: This installment was originally published in 2006.
It's hard to talk seriously to people who are in the midst of frivolity. It's difficult to give
advice about the future to people who are naturally shortsighted. And it's nearly
impossible to go deep with people who are superficial.
In my work as a pastor, I have found it generally easier to do marital counseling than pre-
marital counseling. For even though the engaged couple comes to me full of love and
hope, while the married couple may come with considerable baggage and bitterness, at
