“But Ruth said… where you go I will go, where you stay I will stay; your people will be my people and your God, my God; where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me severely if anything but death separates you and me (Ruth 1:16-17).”

These beautiful words, with the possible exception of 1 Corinthians 13, have been quoted at more weddings than any other text. Even though they have nothing to do with romantic love, they seem right for the occasion because they reflect the highest form of devotion -- love without demand.

How many of you can remember your first love? For most, it happened when we were teenagers. We met that very special person who appealed to us in every way and we fell in love. Our new love promised magnificent things -- joy, happiness and end…