The Importance of Adventure in Marriage -- with Director of Winshape Marriage, Matt Turvey

Praxis Podcast with Rhett Smith

Over the last several years my wife and I have begun a new journey in our life. That journey has involved a couple of elements: 1) Trying to incorporate more adventure into our marriage (i.e. trips, taking on challenges, etc.); 2) Working on ways to partner together in marriage. And last month we took another step closer in combining these two elements when we went away for a few days to WinShape Marriage to be trained as a leaders to lead their marriage adventures.

What is a marriage adventure? Imagine sailing on a catamaran in the BVI's for 8 days with 3 other couples, why you work on your marriage with daily activities and conversations, all while taking on daily adventures. This was something my wife and I were invited to participate in 3 years ago, and it was an experience that changed our life.

Or imagine leading couples through Machu Picchu in Peru, or leading couples on a contemplative pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago in Spain, or working with other couples in orphanges in Guatemala?

Well today's guest is the one who oversees WinShape Marriage and all their adventures, and I was excited to have him on to talk about why the element of adventure is so important in marriages. Also, Matt has taken quite the trajectory to get to where he is today, working in some of the most paradigm shifting organizations in the field of marriage.

In this episode we discuss:

• his love for combining psychology and theology and its integration into marriage work.
• his work with Gary Smalley and marriage intensives.
• his time at Prepare and Enrich and what he learned about marriages.
• he and his family selling everything and moving to Peru for two years.
• his experience of doing a personal intensives at OnSite and how that changed his life.
• his current work at Winshape Marriage.
• what are the keys to a successful marriage.
• how you and your spouse can get involved with WinShape Marriage.

Resources and People Mentioned in the Podcast

Gary Smalley

Prepare and Enrich

Todd Sandel

The Hideaway Experience

OnSite

WinShape Marriage