Rubber Chickens
Sep 26, 2020 9:54 am
Read Time: 1 min, 15 secs
Today I spent the day deep in the woods of Texas with nearly 30 other masked people on a high ropes course.
The leadership lessons shared were amazing, and I thought a couple of them were related to marriage. I'll share one today, and a second tomorrow.
Lesson 1: Expect Rubber Chickens
The first activity we did was throw a tennis ball around the circle. Before throwing the ball, we had to call the person's name we had just met. It was pretty simple with one ball.
Then there were three balls.
Then four.
Ultimately, there were seven tennis balls going around the circle simultaneously -- along with a rubber chicken.
When the facilitator threw rubber chicken out for the first time, it caught everyone off guard and the ball throwing slowed as everyone looked with confusion.
Eventually, the pace picked up, and the rubber chicken was being thrown around the circle with the tennis balls.
The facilitator explained that the rubber chicken represents anything in life that you didn't expect.
You could be going along handling business, and then something happens that totally throws you off your game.
It could be a sickness, accident, job loss, financial hit, pandemic, family death, betrayal, or any other disruption you can think of.
Two things:
1) Rubber chickens are going to happen. That's a fact of life.
2) Rubber chickens affect spouses in different ways.
Some spouses thrive while others are overcome with anxiety. These differences can cause as much craziness as the rubber chickens themselves.
If you're the spouse who thrives in chaos, consider how you can be a rock for your mate during these times.
Being a rock may look like praying more, giving encouraging words, pointing out past successes, reaffirming your love, taking a trip, and a host of other things.
The goal is to help bring some stability back to your mate's life.
In closing, remember that rubber chickens will happen.
Find out how you can aid your mate so he/she is not so overwhelmed.
Kevin
