FAITH TANGO: A Liberating Approach to Spiritual Growth in Marriage

The Willifords, who lead retreats and seminars on marriage, liken the steps of marriage enrichment to mastering a complicated tango dance routine. Since the journey to individual spiritual maturity is frequently fraught with obstacles, how do committed married partners stand a chance against time constraints, physical exhaustion and mediocre communication skills? It's not easy, concede the authors, but it is possible. Early in their marriage, the Willifords set up a Saturday morning appointment that has endured countless interruptions, a few setbacks and occasionally irate parishioners who could not understand why a pre-arranged meeting with one's spouse would take precedence over a last-minute church engagement. Carolyn (Devotions for Families That Can't Sit Still) and Craig (former pastor and now president of Denver Seminary) admit that committing to a weekly session of honest interaction is tough. The marital journey to spiritual oneness, they explain, is driven by two primary goals: to learn the important lessons in life and to discover ways to grow closer together. The authors include personal narratives along with their advice making weekly assignations profitable. They encourage husbands and wives to share their strongest feelings of the week, outline their favorite and least favorite events and discuss their current relationship with God. Although the concept of making a standing appointment with one's spouse is not new, married Christians will appreciate the Willifords' fresh and unpretentious style. (Nov.)