"But you know, if you live with somebody for a long time, people are constantly saying: "Well! Of course it's not as great as it used to be, but that's only natural, the first blush of a romance goes, now that's the way it has to be." Now, I totally disagree with that. But I do think that you have to constantly ask yourself the question with total frankness: Is your marriage still a marriage? Is the sacramental element there? Just as you have to ask about the sacramental element in your work: is it still there? I mean, it's a very frightening thing, Wally, to have to suddenly realize that my God! I thought I was living my life, but in fact I haven't been a human being! I've been a performer! I haven't been living, I've been acting! I've acted the role of a father, I've acted the role of the husband, I've acted the role of the friend, I've acted the role of the writer, director, what have you. I've lived in the same room with this person but I haven't really seen them. I haven't really heard them. I haven't really been with them."
So...wow. Sacramental element. How many of us have defined/discovered a "sacramental element" for our marriages, our friendships, our work?
I believe I will give this some more thought...report back tomorrow.
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