In Marriage – It takes two to Tango
Contributer Writer: Monika Sheaffer
When I was 16 years old my parents thought it would be beneficial for me
to attend dance lessons, in order to learn how to waltz, cha-cha, samba
and tango. I enjoyed the tango dance the most, from all my lessons. The
tango can be viewed on television during “Ballroom Dancing Competitions”,
also in movies, “Scent of a Woman” or “Shall We Dance”.
You may ask what does the tango have to do with marriage. Actually a lot,
because in a moment you will see what tango dancing and God’s design
for marriage have in common. The tango originated from Argentina and means
“Close embrace”, when the couples are literally dancing chest
to chest.
Danced in ballrooms today, tango has a unique style and portrays a very
intimate dance. With a combination of quick, short and slow, long steps,
the performers are gliding gracefully across the dance floor. The male dancer
has the lead, holding the female confidently and moving her clockwise in
a certain direction. As they dance as a team, both know their part and they
don’t deviate from it. She trusts his strength and ability to lean
her body far back and then pulling it up into its former position again.
The tango reflects the picture of oneness and harmony, trust and unity,
the same design God established in the beginning for marriage. “And
the two shall become one”, was one of God’s desires for husband
and wife. As a husband, being the head of the wife, she follows his lead
as a helpmeet with trust and support.
During “Ballroom Dancing Competitions”, couples are being judged
by different criteria, such as connection, frame, posture and proper body
alignment. The score determines who wins, based on how well they dance together.
The performers realize, it takes “two to tango”. They can’t
win on their own and are not competing as individuals. If one makes a mistake,
it affects both of them.
Marriage is not a competition, but it requires teamwork. A conflict is not
the fault of just one person or the other, but it takes two to argue. It
takes two to communicate, it takes two to make the marriage work, just like
it takes “two to tango”. So the key to a lasting, fulfilled
and successful relationship is following God’s design for marriage.