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“In my mind, then, I began to question myself and answer myself. I wanted clarity, I wanted sight, but it seems to me that I did not try to think the thoughts I thought. I did not foresee the thoughts I was going to think. “Do you mean that you love Mattie Chatham enough to say what you just said?” “Yes. Oh, yes! I do.” “You love her enough to be a faithful husband to her? Think what you’re saying, now. You’re proposing to be the faithful husband of a woman who is already married to an unfaithful husband?” “Yes. That’s why. If she has an unfaithful husband, then she needs a faithful one.” “A woman already married who must never know that you are her husband? Think. And who will never be your wife?” “Yes.” “Have you foreseen how this may end? Can you?” “No.” “Are you ready for this? Think, now.” “Yes. I am ready.” “Do you, then, in love’s mystery and fear, give yourself to this woman to be her faithful husband from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, till death?” “I do. Yes! That is my vow.” — Wendell Berry

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In my mind, then, I began to question myself and answer myself. I wanted clarity, I wanted sight, but it seems to me that I did not try to think the thoughts I thought. I did not foresee the thoughts I was going to think. “Do you mean that you love Mattie Chatham enough to say what you just said?” “Yes. Oh, yes! I do.” “You love her enough to be a faithful husband to her? Think what you’re saying, now. You’re proposing to be the faithful husband of a woman who is already married to an unfaithful husband?” “Yes. That’s why. If she has an unfaithful husband, then she needs a faithful one.” “A woman already married who must never know that you are her husband? Think. And who will never be your wife?” “Yes.” “Have you foreseen how this may end? Can you?” “No.” “Are you ready for this? Think, now.” “Yes. I am ready.” “Do you, then, in love’s mystery and fear, give yourself to this woman to be her faithful husband from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, till death?” “I do. Yes! That is my vow.
— Wendell Berry