Motorway and marital misdeeds

Quote
"Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned,
Nor hell a fury like a woman scorned." William Congreave, 1697

News
A year ago Chris Huhne was a senior politician in the UK government, minister for energy and climate change, and one of the leading Liberal Democrats in Parliament.  But on Monday he pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice, resigned as an MP, and is waiting to be sentenced for his crime – and his reputation, family and career lie around him in tatters. 

It started with a motorway speeding ticket Huhne picked up in 2003, and to avoid being banned for driving for six months, he persuaded his wife to admit she was the driver.  Seven years later, just after Huhne was appointed a minister in the new coalition government, his affair with a media adviser was exposed, leading to the breakdown of his 25 year marriage to Vicky Price.

At what point did all this trouble really begin? Was it in 2003 with the speeding ticket?  Or was the real starting point when Chris Huhne broke his marriage vows?  Up to that point the motoring offence was a skeleton hidden in the family closet, and would have remained so had Vicky Price not been so incensed by her husband’s betrayal that she told her story to the press to take revenge on him.

This sorry tale offers two important lessons.  Firstly it underscores the reality that what happens in our key relationships will almost certainly have knock on effects in other parts of our lives.  Secondly, it illustrates that marriage is a much more profound relationship than a contract, it’s a covenant formed by vows that joins two lives into one.  When that is violated by a hidden affair and the prolonged deceit that goes with it, the betrayal of trust can have devastating consequences.

The law, both civil and moral, is there for the ultimate good of our relationships – whether on the motorway or in the bedroom. 

Read on…
This week up to February 14th is National Marriage Week in many countries, inviting everyone to consider the value of this unique institution to society.   Read the speech on ‘Modern marriage and the pursuit of happiness’ by Kevin Andrews, Australian MP and author, here. 

Walk the talk
Is there some law standing in your way to the point that you are tempted to disregard it?  Bring into your calculation what the consequences of that might be for your relationships… would it really be worth it?

The last word
From the Bible, Matthew 5, verse 25: “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison.”