man and woman, the nuclear
relationship where love begins and where life begins? Can one proclaim
peace among the nations if unable to contrive to live in harmony with
those under one's own roof?

The mood of our age is compounded of hope and despair. We have achieved
so much, in terms of technological skill and power; and we have achieved
so little, in terms of harmonious human relationships. We have created
the power to make this world, compared with what it has been, a paradise
for man to enjoy, but we have failed to make it possible for man to
enjoy what has been achieved. With the threat of an atomic holocaust
hanging like the sword of Damocles over our heads, we know beyond doubt
that we must learn the art of living together in love and peace or lose
all we have.

In such an hour, what can we do?

We can make a beginning. We can begin at home--with ourselves, and those
nearest and dearest to us. We can strive to learn the great art of
living in the school that has been provided for us. We can build
relationship-in-depth at the foundations of human society: for in the
last resort the quality of relationships in any community cannot rise to
any higher levels than the quality of relationships in the families that
make up the community; and the quality of relationships in any family
cannot rise any higher than the quality of relationships in the marriage
that has brought it into being.

Yes, there _is_ something we can do to witness to the power of love and
peace. We can make a beginning. Marriage enrichment is such a beginning.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote A: Mace, David R., _Marriage As Vocation_, F.G.C. 1969.]

[Footnote B: Reprinted in slightly revised form from Friends Journal,
December 15, 1972.]

[Footnote C: Lederer and Jackson--_The Mirages of Marriage_, Norton,
1968, page 129.]

[Footnote D: Cicero and Fahs--_Conversations on Sex and Love in
Marriage_, Word Books, 1972.]

[Footnote E: We have capitulated at times and have prepared a brief book
list. A larger list appears in the appendix.]

BOOKS FOR FURTHER READING

There is as yet little in the way of literature about marriage
enrichment. Here are a few books which have been found useful by leaders
of retreats.

Bach, G. R. and Wyden, P., _The Intimate Enemy_. Morrow, 1969,
(available in paperback). A belligerent but challenging book
about marital conflict.

Clinebell, H. J. and C. H., _The Intimate Marriage_. Harper and