Article June 1, 1987 Issue

My half of the ark

The Christian Science Monitor

Outside , the rain drummed mercilessly on the skylight at the top of our stairway. I was on my way downstairs to collect my briefcase and coat when my husband called out, "Have you built your half of the ark?" He was, of course, referring to the miserable weather; but on my way downtown I thought seriously about a deeper dimension of his question and the answer that God requires of us.

I spent my half-hour commute that day thinking about the concept of an ark, and pondering how it could be applied to protecting the marriage covenant between two people. Only a few nights earlier my husband and I had discussed, late into the night, the challenges being married can bring. Boredom, attraction to others, disillusionment with married life, are just a few of the negative elements that would challenge a married couple. Of specific concern to my husband and me were the challenges a marriage faces when both partners are pursuing a career outside the home. The temptation to believe that a career, a colleague, or a certain life style is more interesting than one's spouse is being hurled at men and women alike, as mercilessly as the rain was beating upon our roof that morning.

We can learn some important lessons from Noah, a man who knew more about storms, living in twos, and the safety of an ark than most of us will ever need to know! The Bible tells us that "Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord," that he "was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God."^{Gen. 6:8, 9.} Therefore, he was chosen to gather together and save whatever would be necessary to replenish the earth after the flood. Noah was instructed to take two of each creature and also to bring with him his own wife and immediate family. As I considered the story of Noah, drawing many parallels between it and a marriage, I learned a cherished lesson in ark building.