Character is Key. Character is King.

To follow up on my last entry, it is necessary to spend more than a brief paragraph describing the most important quality in any spouse. I believe that adults who choose to engage in the act of marriage should be ready for the supreme test of maturity that it entails. It is at this point where people have to remember that the most important thing they can look for is content of character.

Let's face it. Marriage starts off exciting, but then gets boring and descends into the hectic life of taking care of family matters. Pretty soon, there's no "me" time, especially for the unfortunate wife (which, being on the opposite end of the spectrum, makes me feel guilty). There are verbal abuse, arguments, disagreements, times when compromise is hard. It's not easy.

The thing about love is that it shouldn't be easy. The moment it gets easy, you know that something's wrong. It's in the nature of humanity to be self-centered. Going beyond our center defies nature, so finding a center beyond ourselves will always be an uphill battle. The love that comes from marriage should be above mere bodily passion, emotional need, or intellectual conclusion. The passions of the body are fleeting and shallow. Emotions are never as deep as they seem. The intellect is merely a conscious awareness and understanding of our place. The love of which I speak must come directly from the human spirit. Only such a love can truly be considered timeless and immortal, and it transcends the limited dimensions of the sensations previously mentioned. It is the one love that truly is committed, patient, and unfailing.

Love is a choice we make, not a feeling. The feeling of love can be easily directed toward one individual. However, in order to truly be a loving person, it cannot be contained within a closed relationship and should find its place within the larger picture of the universe itself. It is not something directed only to one person, but shared with everyone. The truly loving person must find their center in every person they come across. If someone cannot love in this manner, how can his or her spouse expect this much in return? A person lacking in this love toward everyone will not be able to bring it into marriage, only the illusions of bodily, emotional, and intellectual love. It is not who you are underneath, not your feeling or your thoughts, but your actions that define you. This shows the true content of character, the character that one person will eventually love and marry.

Therefore, love everyone. Love, because it is good. Have a love for goodness for its own sake. Do this, and you will be the best you can be, and people will find family in you.

Your Honor,

Emperor Kraggh