Single, Dating, Engaged, Married

Navigating the Four Critical Seasons of Relationship

The vast majority of young people will still pass through the key phases of singleness, dating, engagement and marriage in theirtwenties. Yet they are delaying marriage longer than any generation in human history. Why?

For the first time in history, the average age for an American woman having her first child, 26, is younger than the average age of her firstmarriage, 27. More children than ever are growing up in fatherless homes, despite the overwhelming evidence that in everymeasurable way this is bad for the child. The Center for Disease Control also recently reported a dramatic rise in sexually transmitteddisease nationwide. In Rhode Island alone, since the onset of online dating, reported cases of Syphilis has risen 79%, and HIV hasincreased by 33%. Though many young people can avoid early pregnancy and STDS, most cannot dodge the depression and feelingsof isolation that characterize this modern generation. Studies show a dramatic rise in self-reported loneliness among the young. All ofour technological connectivity has not made us feel more connected. In many ways, the very screens that are meant to link us toothers have become shields blocking us from the deep intimacy we crave. Many have discovered that where there is a lack of intimacy,addiction often rises to take its place. How cana young person navigate such troubled waters? Is there hope out there?

Like a sailor on turbulent seas, we need to look up and see the North Star: the fixed points in the sky whereby we might navigate theobjective realities in life. We need the skill-set to know how to journey through life and how to select the right people to journeyalongside. In this book we will chart a course through the four relational phases that the vast majority of human beings on the planetwill pass through in their twenties: singleness, dating, engaged and married. In each of these phases, we will look at what eternalpurposes should be pursued in each stage, and how to pursue them.

SINGLENESS: DEVOTION

DATING: EVALUATION

ENGAGED: UNIFICATION

MARRIED: MISSION

Our desires forintimacy are powerful. This power can be constructive or destructive. Our satisfaction and our safety will be ensured if we can aimthese powerful desires toward divine purposes.