Fieldwoven
Learning to grow a marriage that is rooted in great love.
A book project from the podcast called Marriage is Funny
–––
Marriage is a lifelong linking of two ever-evolving people. They grow and change day by day, like two vines deciding to lean in, hang on, and bend back away over and over again.
They do this dance – a tango of organic matter – fueled by sunshine, rainwater, and whatever ground of the earth that they ultimately call home.
As both plants change, so does their relationship, naturally.
The connection between them becoming it’s own entity of sorts, an ecosystem that is complex enough to be studied and vulnerable enough that it needs to be cared for... it’s a bond that is certainly affected by the surroundings but also by the health and intent of each individual plant.
They must both want survival and the good news is: all are created with this inherent desire.
The rhythms of growth are dependably seasonal, yet also seemingly random. SO much room for unexpectedness but that’s where resilience begins to take center stage.
In real life, you can lop off a huge portion of vine and the plants nearby will grow to compensate as they care for their injured field mate. It’s a beautiful thing – mysterious, and yet it makes complete sense when you realize that they know something we humans often forget.
Plants have a much better chance of survival when the entire garden thrives.
How would it look if we treated the health of a marriage like the health of two plants?
How would it look if we treated the health of a community like the health of a vibrant, diverse and flourishing field?
In the case of our own relationship, we’re a corn stalk and a sweet pea vine. Blatantly opposite in character, but each one bringing value and meaning to wherever we find ourselves planted. Of course these two varieties can grow just fine on their own but when they sprout up side by side, the yield and the lifespan and the beauty are astounding.
When two plants find themselves at the heart of a healthy field? They get to be part of a crop that is stronger, sweeter and frankly – a lot more interesting.