52 Weeks, 52 Activities for Couple | A Year of Connection and Growth | Introduction

Cultivating "Oneness" in Your Marriage: A Journey of Connection 

Are you looking for ways to strengthen your marriage and deepen your connection with your spouse, or maybe you’re struggling to form a connection to your spouse? Are you and your spouse at odds with each other? The practical tips and activities in this 52 Weeks 52 Activities: A Year-Long Journey of Connection will help you embark on a transformative journey with your partner! These mini-presentations offer weekly engaging activities, inspired by the wisdom of the holy scriptures and real-life experiences to help you cultivate "oneness" in your relationship. These activities can also be used to reignite passion and communication in your marriage.

What Does "Oneness" in Marriage Really Mean?

According to Genesis 2:24, marriage is a beautiful journey of two individuals becoming one. It's a process of intertwining lives, sharing goals, and building a future together. But achieving that deep sense of "oneness" doesn't happen overnight. It requires conscious effort, open communication, and a willingness to continuously nurture the bond you share.

This isn't about losing your individual identities; rather, it's about creating a shared identity as a couple, a strong and unified "us" that's greater than the sum of its parts. It's about feeling deeply connected, understood, and supported by your partner, creating a safe and loving space where you can both thrive. Oneness in marriage goes beyond simply living together or sharing responsibilities. Throughout the TANAKH, we find numerous examples of couples whose deep connection exemplifies this ideal. From Abraham and Sarah's unwavering faith to Ruth and Boaz's enduring loyalty, these partnerships showcase the transformative power of “oneness.”

These activities encompass various aspects of connection, from emotional and spiritual intimacy to physical connection and shared experiences. They are designed to be practical, engaging, and adaptable to your unique relationship. Each activity is designed to bring you closer together and create a stronger, more fulfilling and lasting marriage.

It encompasses several key elements:

• Emotional Intimacy: Feeling deeply connected and understood by your partner, sharing your thoughts, feelings, and vulnerabilities without fear of judgment. This should be the cornerstone of all marriages, but unfortunately, some spouses, when angry, weaponize each other’s flaws, and exploit vulnerabilities during conflict, leading to emotional shutdown and marital division.
• Spiritual Connection: Sharing core values, beliefs, and a sense of purpose in life, creating a foundation of shared meaning. You should never ever marry someone whose beliefs, core values, and morals are opposite yours. It will never work! Eventually, it will cause a rift in the marriage which may ultimately end in divorce. Spiritual connection is about sharing spiritual practices in thought, action, worship, and praise.
• Physical Intimacy: Maintaining a healthy and fulfilling physical relationship, expressing love and affection through touch and intimacy. A good sex life extends beyond the bedroom and include a loving embrace, hug, kiss, caressing, or a gentle touch of affection.
• Intellectual Connection: Engaging in stimulating conversations, sharing ideas, learning from each other, understanding and respecting each other's perspectives, and keeping the spark of intellectual curiosity alive.
• Shared Goals and Aspirations: Working together towards common goals, supporting each other's ambitions, and building a shared vision for the future. Goals can be as simple as household budgeting, saving money for a major project, vacation, or appliance, and aspirations could be home or business ownership.

As we embark on this beautiful journey together, we will begin exploring the profound concept of “oneness” in marriage through the lens of the holy scriptures where the concept of “oneness” or “one flesh” was first mentioned in Genesis chapter 2 verse 24: “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”

"Basar Echad" (בָּשָׂר אֶחָד) - One Flesh

In Hebrew, the phrase "one flesh" is "basar echad" (בָּשָׂר אֶחָד). "Basar" signifies more than just the physical body. It represents the whole person – body, soul, and spirit. "Echad" means "one," but it's not just a numerical one. It speaks of a complete, unified whole. When GOD created Adam and Eve, they were not just two separate individuals, but rather two halves of a whole. Their union represented the ultimate expression of love, companionship, and spiritual completion.

Why is Cultivating Oneness Important?

A strong sense of oneness in marriage provides numerous benefits:

• Increased Happiness and Fulfillment: Feeling deeply connected to your spouse contributes to overall happiness and life satisfaction. It’s a beautiful thing when you know that your spouse is dependable, trustworthy, and loving.
• Improved Communication and Conflict Resolution: When you feel connected, it's easier to communicate openly and honestly, and resolve conflicts constructively without being combative. You can’t argue with a fool and win. You are wasting your time.
• Greater Resilience in the Face of Challenges: A strong bond helps couples navigate life's inevitable challenges with greater strength and resilience. Reliable and dependable during struggles, addictions, hardships, and sicknesses.
• Enhanced Emotional and Physical Well-being: Feeling loved and supported has a positive impact on both emotional and physical health. When you are mentally strong, you can make better choices and exercise sound judgments. Both emotional and physical health reduce stress and help cultivate loving relationships.
• A Stronger Foundation for Family: A strong and unified couple creates a more stable and loving environment for children, who in turn create a strong and caring environment for their community.

These 52 activities—one for each week of the year—are designed to help you and your spouse cultivate a deeper sense of connection and grow together in your journey as a couple.

This isn't about completing a checklist; it's about embarking on a journey of connection, exploring new ways to deepen your bond, and creating a more fulfilling and loving marriage. We encourage you to approach these activities with an open heart and a willingness to connect with your spouse on a deeper level.

What you can expect in future weekly posts:

• Variety of Activities: Covering different aspects of connection to cater to diverse needs and preferences.
• Practical Tips and Guidance: Providing clear instructions and suggestions for each activity.
• Focus on Communication and Connection: Emphasizing the importance of open communication and genuine connection.
• Adaptability for Different Stages of Marriage: Offering activities suitable for couples in all stages of their relationship.

Join us each week on this journey of connection and growth as we explore the power of “oneness” in the context of your faith and your marriage.

I hope this blog post has been helpful. If you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment or send me an email. Shalom