Tag Archives: marriage partnership

Enjoying the Divine Design

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Image courtesy of Ambro / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

In his book, Men and Women: Enjoying the Difference, Larry Crabb shares his perspectives on God’s design of the genders and the joy that can be found in celebrating the truth of it. (Unfortunately the design is frequently misunderstood, which Dr. Crabb addresses in his book.) The following paragraph caught my attention:

“When husbands are masculine, wives tend to go ‘off duty.’ They feel relieved of the relentless pressure to make things go as they should. They relax in the strength of an advocate that frees them to more easily realize the other-centered joy of their womanhood. When wives are feminine, husbands gain confidence in handling responsibilities, and are drawn to warmly enjoy and profoundly respect the woman whose involvement with them means more to their hearts than the most coveted honor or  achievement could ever mean. They feel strengthened in deep parts of their being where nothing but femininity can touch.”

In Dr. Crabb’s description of masculinity and femininity here, I see a reflection of the lead and follow in partner dance. Could the dynamic he describes be a primary reason why so many women desire to dance with their spouse? Equally, are men affirmed in their masculinity when they embrace dancing with their wives?

To dance together is to embrace, celebrate and enjoy God’s holy and good design for us as male and female.

Does “high performance” describe your marriage?

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“Dancing with you is like driving a Porsche.”

I recognized this as a generous compliment from my dance partner, even though I’m not a sports car enthusiast.

Yet to satisfy my curiosity, I searched online to find out what people had to say about driving a Porsche. Here are some findings I believe reflect the intent of the leader’s comment:

“Quick and responsive steering”

flickr.com/photos/mhincha/8232608529/

flickr.com/photos/mhincha/8232608529/

Continue reading →

True Leadership and Submission

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What do biblical leadership and submission look like in the “real world”? I find partner dancing to present a fairly accurate picture of what God intends for these roles in marriage. And I was encouraged in this by what I learned in a recent study taught by Dr. John Yates, rector of Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Raleigh, N.C. (also mentioned in my previous post).

Contention over marriage roles, inside and outside the Christian community, results from the fall, accentuated by viewing the scriptures through the context of our culture. Based on Dr. Yates’ thoroughly researched study, I challenge the following culturally accepted myths about the biblical roles in marriage. Read to the end for an explanation of how partner dance reflects the scriptural truths. Continue reading →

A Necessary and Complementary Partner

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In a previous post I responded to a colleague’s question about how the follower is a “helper” in the dance (in reference to Gen. 2:18). Recently I have learned more about the context and meaning of the term that is translated “helper” in that verse, and consequently I want to revisit the question in light of this new information.

The new information comes from a study series taught by Dr. John Yates, rector of Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Raleigh, N.C. In the study notes, Dr. Yates writes:

The term, “helper,” used to describe Eve is often used of God himself. [Exodus 18:4, Deuteronomy 33:7, 1Samuel 7:12] It essentially means one who provides what is lacking/what the other is incapable of on his or her own. A helper is therefore not an assistant but a necessary and complementary partner. Continue reading →

Intended for Intimacy

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On my most recent post, The Great Adventure, a reader commented: “Marriage provides constant opportunity for emotional risk-taking.” His words provide the perfect segue for this new post on intimacy.

Now each reader most likely has his or her own definition of and associations with that term, so for the purpose of this blog post I am using the term to refer to close familiarity or relationship; closeness. That’s intimacy in the broadest terms which can encompass the more specific aspects of emotional, spiritual and physical intimacy.

I believe the blog comment introduces this topic perfectly because emotional risk-taking is necessary for intimacy. Deep down, we all crave close connections with others (including God and our spouse) yet we fear it at the same time. Continue reading →

Dance for JOY

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Recently I learned that the Westminster Catechism (Presbyterian church) begins: What is the chief end of man? Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever. I spent my entire childhood attending traditional churches (though not Presbyterian), and somehow I completely missed this message. But it resonates with what I’ve learned later in life … we were created to glorify God and enJOY him.

Joy is a fruit of the spirit, produced by living in relationship with God.
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Galatians 5:22-23a NLT

By living in relation and close connection with God, we enJOY him. Joy is his intention for us, according to Isaiah 61 where we learn that our Savior would come “to bind up the brokenhearted … to comfort all who mourn … to bestow a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.” (NIV)

In biblical references, dance is often a demonstration of joy.
I will build you up again and you will be rebuilt, O Virgin Israel. Again you will take up your tambourines and go out to dance with the joyful.  Jeremiah 31:4, NIV

You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy,  Psalm 30:11, NLT

Be glad at such a time, and dance for joy; for your reward is great in Heaven (Luke 6:23a, Weymouth New Testament)

Therefore, I believe our Creator made us to dance. David, a man after God’s own heart, “danced before the Lord with all his might.” 2 Samuel 6:14

So why am I writing about this in a marriage blog? Based on these scriptures and my own experience, I believe dancing can be a source of joy for your marriage. It will require you to face your fear if dancing is something that feels threatening to you, but the pay off could be well worth stepping out of your comfort zone.

I’ve met a number of men who learned partner dancing after a failed marriage. They took a risk to try something new, and they were surprised to find they loved dancing (for a number of reasons, some of which are addressed in other posts here on this blog).
Don’t wait until it’s too late to try something new that can add more joy to your marriage. Don’t shrink back from all the joy your Creator intends for you.