Comment from Julie
Time November 1, 2011 at 7:16 am

I think I would go to a conference. I love it that my group of friends are at all different stages of our lives. Married 20 years, married 3 years, single, dating, kids in high school. I love to see the different phases of life and learn from each other, so I think that I would totally enjoy it.

However, I would really hate to go alone. It’s one thing to go to a movie and/or dinner alone, which I’m all well and good with, but to go to a marriage conference alone where you’re “supposed” to be there with someone else? I think that would make me feel a little lonely. Maybe not, though

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JOY Reply:
November 1st, 2011 at 11:44 am

@Julie, I totally get that. I remember the first time I went to a movie alone. It was kind of weird at first but by the end it felt pretty empowering. Especially since it was a scary movie and I had nobody’s arm to grab!

I think the best case scenario would be attending with friends who you could debrief with or even attend with another couple. Being able to ask, “Do you both resonate with this?” is a good way to help make sense of some things you haven’t experienced yet due to being single.

Let me know if you go!

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Julie Reply:
November 1st, 2011 at 12:23 pm

@JOY, I’ve worked my way up to traveling by myself. I always prefer friends, but sometimes our schedules just don’t work out, so I fly solo. You’re right. It’s definitely empowering!

I’d love to go to a conference, and I think my friends would be definitely game for it, as well. Unfortunately we live in the armpit of America where the closest conference is 5 hours away…and I’ve already used most of my vacation

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Comment from Trina
Time November 1, 2011 at 8:35 am

Joy, loved the video from the archives.

I’m the girl who always checks out the new books in the marriage section, so it doesn’t take much for me to get excited about a relationship conference. But I’m in the same camp as Julie. I can do a lot of things solo, even attending conferences without knowing anyone else, but I don’t know if I’d be able to attend a marriage conference without a friend.

A few years ago my church hosted a marriage conference with the Parrotts and a small group of my friends attended. It was good, but still awkward at times. I think that presenters can help by how inclusive they are with their examples or applications. For example, some pastors are great about slipping in the terms “friends” and “roommates” versus exclusively using “spouse” and “children” when discussing relationships.

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JOY Reply:
November 1st, 2011 at 11:50 am

@Trina, that is a great idea! I have encouraged my parents to do this and with the increasing amount of single people we have attending the conference, they are doing so more and more. I will let them know you are seconding the push!

There is a video for singles on this page – would love your feedback: http://loveandrespect.com/conference-preview/

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Trina Reply:
November 2nd, 2011 at 4:06 pm

@JOY, I think that the video clip is good and speaks well to why singles would benefit from the conference.

How often do your parents help participants connect the dots between the love and respect principles in marriage and how they are applicable to all relationships? It wouldn’t have to be additional stories, but could be questions or statements that bridge from the marriage stories to other contexts.

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Comment from Emma
Time November 1, 2011 at 6:18 pm

I’d go, but you know, I live in New Zealand so it’s a bit of a trek! (See what I did there?)

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JOY Reply:
November 1st, 2011 at 6:24 pm

@Emma, Love it. I call that a “dad joke.” It made me chuckle…

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JOY Reply:
November 1st, 2011 at 6:24 pm

@Emma, p.s. I love dad jokes.

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Emma Reply:
November 1st, 2011 at 6:26 pm

@JOY, Best part is that I typed it and THEN realised it was an awesome dad-joke! Haha

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Comment from G Fresh
Time November 1, 2011 at 7:09 pm

Oh, MAN! If I had known earlier about the one in Franklin this weekend I totally would have budgeted for it, but sadly my going out money is depleted. Thanks a lot Dave Ramsey. Jerk.

Next time though for sure. I’d feel a little more comfortable going alone if you can get your dad to wear a prosthetic Klingon forehead and yell out “QAPLA!” every once in awhile. It means “success” so I’m sure he’d have no problem fitting it in somewhere.

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Peter Reply:
March 19th, 2012 at 8:25 am

@G Fresh,

I can tell, based on the stunningly sound logic of your solution which offers the best of both worlds, that you are a Vulcan. Therefore, I was wondering, do we humans HAVE to wait to break the light speed barrier before you formally make first contact with us? Just wondering. Thanks!

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Comment from haleykc
Time November 2, 2011 at 7:53 pm

This video is just another reason to love you.

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Comment from Michael
Time November 8, 2011 at 10:36 am

Hey Joy! Thanks for this challenge to engage with married folk for friendship, advice, and ture Gospel relationships. What joy there is in my community group through my church where us singles and them marrieds can counsel and challenge each other! Um, that Paul guy in the Bible-he never got married and we use his stuff for tons of our Biblical foundation for marriage. I will share this video on my blog: rillingtonfields.wordpress.com.

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