Till death do us part.
The first thing that comes to my mind when I hear that phrase is marriage. That is what people say when they get married. Till death do us part... aka, I will love you until the day that you die. But is that all? Is your love only reserved for that one person? What if I used this phrase outside the context of marriage...?
Till death do us part.
Being in college and meeting new people everyday, I came to realize something a little unsettling. In life, we can say that we pick and chose our friends. If we don't like them, then we move on. If compatible, then best friends for life. But what about those people that we see on the street everyday, or that one person that sits next to you in class and the only meaningful conversation you had was to ask for a pencil. In those situations, what does it mean to say"till death do us part"?
For those you love, it is easy to say, I will love you until the day that you die. It is easy to want to shower those you love with all the blessings of the world. It is easy to love those who love you back. Is that to say that you love them because it is convenient? No. Loving people, being selfless, giving more of yourself to someone else and expecting nothing in return is not a convenient thing. Loving someone is never easy. No relationship is ever easy. Everything we do requires effort and time and energy. For some, it just seems easier to give effort and time and energy, especially when it is reciprocated.
For those that are harder to love, this notion of "till death do us part" can be a beacon of hope. You can look at it like this: you have until the day they die or the day you die to mend and to work on your relationship. Regardless if it is a good relationship or a not so great relationship, I am one to believe that every person you encounter, you meet for a reason. Every relationship you build has potential to be positive and constructive. It is a matter of how much effort, time and energy you decide to put into it. Relationships shouldn't be a bargain or a transaction. It shouldn't just be an opportunity to make connections or build your network. It is more important than that. It is about learning to give, learning to be vulnerable, and learning to do what seems most impossible at times, to love. Every time an argument occurs, make an effort to fix it. Some people will spend their entire lives confronting one problem, but isn't that enough. Until either one of you dies, there is still time to fix and mend. There is still time to make mistakes and learn. There is still time to love.
The scariest thing about that is that you never know when the other person is going to die. Nor do you know what you will die. Till death do us part.... in this one sentence is a sense of hope, but a greater sense of urgency.
Lastly, for those that we do not know so well- that one kid that sits next to you everyday, don't be shy to lend a hand but also don't miss out on an opportunity to build relationships. Now, I am not saying that you force them into being your best friend, but don't close that door before you go in. Sometimes, the greatest people you meet are those ones you never expected. Sometimes the best of friends are not the ones that are easy to love, but those that you learn to love, fail to love, but continue to love.
