Black= Blake Rose= Brook
Who we are and what we (ARE SUPPOSE TO) do:
"Neged" is our personal abbreviation of the words that God called Adam to Eve and Eve to Adam. The Hebrew words God combined together are "ezer kenegdo". Simply put, as "negeds" we are opposite yet equal. We have been designed by God to fit together, to compliment one another and to facilitate the best in one another through a dance of intimacy that challenges, encourages, protects and confronts. The strength of negeds is a committment to resolve conflict in healthy ways...which may mean resting in the conflict and even celebrating it as part of what will forever be and will forever provide interesting dynamics within your relationship.
Negeds are not, nor are they designed to be merely happy, thoughtless and aloof people. In fact, a primary implication of the relationship, as it is designed by God, is adversarial. that doesn't imply mean behavior, calloused treatment or distant hearts. In fact, quite to opposite is true. Who did God call His people? Israel. What does "Israel" mean? One who wrestles against God. God is not One to shy away from conflict, trouble or challenge and His people aren't to be that kind of people either. Remember, we have not been given a spirit of fear. The goal isn't comfort, happiness or fun. The goal of Negeds is simple...INTIMACY.
"The Torah Study for Reform Jews says, “From the time of creation, relationships between spouses have at times been adversarial. In Genesis 2:18, God calls woman an ezer kenegdo, a "helper against him." The great commentator Rashi takes the term literally to make a wonderful point: "If he [Adam] is worthy, [she will be] a help [ezer]. If he is not worthy [she will be] against him [kenegdo] for strife." This Jewish study also described man and woman facing each other with arms raised holding an arch between them, giving a beautiful picture of equal responsibility"
Since Brook and I believe, and can personally attest, that intimacy is only forged through conflict and healthy resolution of that conflict, we will use this blog as an example of common themes in marriage and family life that presents conflict. Often conflict can be funny, ironic or mild and at other times it can be incredibly raw, harsh and tough. In this blog we will deal with all of it in attempt to create healthy discussions, disagreements and hopefully provide some levity and comfort as we all travel on the most amazing, most difficult, most exciting and most frightening journey we will ever know...the road to intimacy.
--Blake
Hi and welcome readers!
Okay, here's the deal with this blog...
Hubby and I are kind of just your average complimentary couple making our way through life and trying to be not only married, but happily married. What's the use in doing something if you aren't going to do it well, right?
The idea behind 'Negeds' is to share both of our perspectives on issues, and sort of show examples of compromise, conflict, agreeing to disagree, knock down drag outs, etc. My thoughts will be in rose, and Blake's will be in black.
**Disclaimer: We are not professionals, and can offer no guarantees that we won't be as dysfunctional as hell, say things we later change our minds about, or otherwise give really crappy advice. **
Learn more about our backgrounds here at our story, and what brought us together and keeps us that way. My hope is that you relate and come back to visit us often as we journey up this hill called life.
--Brook
