I am a strong advocate for romance and passion between husband and wife. Instead of being dull and routine, marriage needs to be kept on the front burner.

In the course of daily living, we tend to lose track of things that are important simply because they can be pushed into the background. We intend for that to be temporary, but so often temporary is lost to the urgent.

Urgency drives us forward, and before we realize it we have missed opportunities we cannot regain. Our schedules are filled with things that are important—some may even have an eternal perspective. Keeping our priorities straight can be confusing.

In the midst of all that, God has given us a wonderful roadmap to success in marriage. God holds the marriage union between a man and a woman in the highest esteem. For that reason if for no other, we must do the same. It is designed to be a reflection of the relationship between Christ and His bride, the church. So how could we expect anything different?

Francis Rodman once said that Matrimony is a process by which a grocer acquired an account the florist had. Gentlemen—don’t let that happen. As I have said before, we are to keep our marriages alive and vibrant. This requires an open account with the florist. Yes, flowers are expensive, but that is what makes them so precious. You are saying she’s worth it to you, all practicality aside!

One of the most important aspects of our marriage was that it was an adventure—we enjoyed every part of it we could, and grew from every part that was painful. No adventure is without difficulty, sometimes extreme difficulty. But there is joy in the midst of it all; we simply have to look for it. That may mean embracing something we don’t want.

Marriage should be, and can be exciting—filled with adventure. But there is more. It can be focused on God instead of ourselves. Imagine landing a small airplane on a remote dirt field, then trekking through the African Bush as you and your spouse carry medicines and supplies to hidden villages.

Is your life and marriage an adventure? It should be. It’s up to you.