May 15, Wednesday Quotes. It is not surprising that we have a problem. I think we have a perfect storm in the combination of three things: a legitimate desire to emphasize and pursue marriage; the extraordinarily bad societal habits and examples regarding romance; and, the fallen inclinations of human persons.
Allow me to explain. But here are a few thoughts regarding romance and dating in the teen and young adult years. The matter of adult dating requires separate treatment. The first ingredient in the perfect storm arises both from human nature itself and from a legitimate response to our age: we need to prioritize marriage while others are setting it aside.
Parents want their children to think in terms of the great good of marriage, and well-raised young people are often ready and excited to oblige. So far so good. Then enter the second factor. When a young person asks himself what dating looks like, he cannot but look around and take note. Now a well-formed, intentional soul immediately recognizes that he should do things differently. But here is a key moment. In short, while he resolves to do things better, he is in fact poorly positioned to do so for two reasons.
First, his notion of dating often even in the best-case scenario is formed negatively, in reaction: i. Second, despite having received a good upbringing, our teens and young adults as a rule have notably less maturity and responsibility than prior generations even in recent memory. This last point is, in my judgment, often overlooked. The third factor in the perfect storm always has been and will be at work in this realm.
Yet it behooves us to take special note of it in view of the just mentioned second factor. I will be direct. What we can call concupiscence, a complex reality heightened by hormones, is seriously aggravated by both the bad customs of our age and the immaturity of our young people, which often includes lack of self-esteem and a craving for affirmation. What, in my experience, is the upshot of this perfect storm? I do not want to overstate the problem. I have seen many young peopleโalbeit rarely below the age of twentyโengage in mature, honorable courtship.
