So I’ve been wondering:What is the point of marriage?

Is it to be able to say we’re married?
That is to say we have one person in our lives with whom we reciprocally care enough to tie ourselves together?
Is it to share our lives with that person?
And if so, what does sharing our lives look like?

Is a shared life one of shared thoughts and ideas?
Shared efforts?
A shared home?
A shared bed?

Is the point of marriage to create a space within this world where we and our partner (and any children that come to us) can feel safe and welcome and valued?

Is the point of marriage to create a place within this world where our shared thoughts and ideas can take physical form?

In other words: what is the point of taking one relationship and raising it above all others to call it marriage? And what does that look like in practice?

And how do we get there?