A few weeks ago, a divorced friend described her marital intimacy as perfunctory.  I wondered later how sex in a committed partnership could be perfunctory.  It’s like describing prayer as perfunctory.  Sometimes I go for years just saying the words (and, when I was more observant of the Sabbath and dietary laws, adhering to those) without actually feeling God’s presence.  But eventually–if I keep doing these things–the spark returns.  It’s when I give up the practice that I give up the chance to get the spark back.

A logical question is why I am less observant now (if, as I assert, committed practice is the best way to get the spark back), but I’ll answer that some other time.

Now for the wordplay:  Perfunctory sex=a lick and a promise?