"What's Forever For?"

"If love never lasts forever, tell me
What's forever for?"
-- Anne Murray, "What's Forever For"

Oh how America needs to listen to this song. What is forever for, if no one wants to commit to anything, or be faithful to anyone? Can a person truly be unsatisfied with the one in his arms that he would find another to hold? Can a woman be so fickle that while she has one wrapped around her finger, she makes ties with another when the other one is not around? What I think is really sad is that I'm not talking about adults here. I'm talking about young people. So many young people seem to be afraid to commit to one person and hold to them. For some, it's a fear of being hurt. For others, it's a fear to commit to someone only to become dissatisfied later. Others are simply selfish and are more focused on the pleasure of the moment rather than the consequences in the future. Why do so many young people fall into this trap?

Cheating - that's a strong word. I'm not talking about someone looking over at Johnny's test during class and copying his answers. I'm not talking about taking the short cut on a marathon to get to the finish line faster. I'm talking about unfaithfulness. What is it that causes someone to turn his head from the one who loves him and whom he's claimed to love and run to another? Does he no longer care for her? Has she offended him? If so, why does he not simply go to her? Why hurt her even more than confronting her?

Unfaithfulness is like a disease. It begins with a word or look - the germ or virus. Then it grows and becomes attraction. Soon, the well-being, the health of the original relationship has become something that only the proper medication - counseling or will-power - can overcome.

Two people like each other. They aren't quite to the dating stage, but everyone knows they will be there soon. They're just waiting for the right time. But when one is absent, the other flirts with someone else. Is she lonely? Is she simply wanting attention at all hours of the day rather than just when her significant other can supply it? Is his voice over the phone not enough to satisfy her that she would go to another's arms so quickly? She holds him on a string, a mere strand of her affections, only to tie another to her heart while still holding on to the first. Is it hormones? Is it emotions? Or is she simply trying to get more attention?

Where do young people see that cheating, being unfaithful to one who holds their trust, is fine? I can't help but think it's the culture in America. Look around. Look at the TV shows, the books, the magazine articles, the Hollywood stars. What do you see? I see a sea unfaithfulness. An ocean of heartbreak and selfishness. Divorce is rampant - not just in Hollywood, but in our own neighborhoods, even our own families and homes. Men have affairs with their secretaries; women party with other men. What's the point of marriage if it's just going to be thrown away?

So answer the question. What's forever for?