By Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway

Could it be that weddings are working? Or at least sticking.

News on the marriage front is not very romantic or sexy, but it tells us that the divorce rate is down. It is the lowest its been since 1970. In 1981 we were a country with a 50 per cent divorce rate. Recent statistics say that could be changing.

The only problem: No one is quite sure if relationships are any better or if Americans have gotten better at choosing the right mates.

The Associate Press conducted an interesting probe into this topic, sorting through statistics and interviewing many experts on the topics. They pondered the questions: Is divorce declining because marriage is better, people are more grown up about it, or we take commitment more seriously?

The answer: Not necessarily. It could be there are just less people marrying, and more are living together "out of wedlock." You wouldn't know if by this culture's increased interest in "everything wedding" but AP reported the divorce rate is down because:

* The number of couples who live together without marrying has increased tenfold since 1960

* The marriage rate has dropped nearly 30 percent in the past 25 years.

* Americans are waiting about five years longer to marry than they did in 1970.

They report: "the national per capita divorce rate has declined steadily since its peak in 1981."

Some experts says the real story lies in what they call the "The Divorce Divide". College educated couples seem less likely to split up, while couples who are not as educated or affluent tend to divorce more.

Does this mean people who've gone to college and have good jobs appreciate love, partnership and family more?

Experts say that it could just be that having a few bucks helps ease some of the tensions of modern family life. The more upbeat experts attribute it to new attitudes toward marriage that lead people to want to honor an uphold their vows, and stick together, for better or for worse.

Ouch. It is so sad to talk about marriage without thinking of a bride and groom, a happy couple, the love that brings them together... and the possibility that even when things become, dull, tough, and seem hopeless for love, there might still be a spark that two grown up people can choose to reignite to bring love alive again.

When life gets tough, it sometimes helps to remember what it is that made you fall in love with your mate, and look one another in the eyes and repeat your vows.

I take you
to be my husband/wife.
To have and to hold
from this day forward
In good times and bad times,
In sickness and in health.
To love, honor and cherish,
All the days of my life.

Regardless of the divorce stats, 120,000 or more couples come to Las Vegas each year to marry. You are always invited her to renew your vows too!