Navigating Singleness and Friendship in the Modern Dating Scene

Hello and welcome back to the Naked Marriage Podcast. We are Dave and Ashley Willis, and on this podcast, we address the truth about sex, intimacy, and lifelong love. And you guys are in for a real treat today because we have a dear friend and former producer Marcus in.

The studio with us today, Marcus Bowen. And let me tell you about Marcus.

Yes.

In fact, I could use the whole time just talking about Marcus and not give him a chance to talk, but I'll try to make it brief because we want to hear from him. So Marcus is one of the most beloved people, not only on our team, but just in general in the world. I think I've never had anybody come to me and say, I just don't like that Marcus. That's true. He's very loved and he's wise beyond his years. Just an exceptional guy. And he's also. He's the first, I think, single person that we've had on the show. And I invited him on specifically, one, because we love him so much. But two, I think it'd be a really meaningful conversation to talk about singleness and what married folks should know about, you know, their single friends, because Marcus has got really strong lifelong connections to friends who are now married. And sometimes in the world, especially in the church, we can just sort of self segregate as, like, single people over here, married people over here, and then we all miss out. So we're gonna have a good conversation. Marcus, welcome.

Welcome back.

Great to be here.

Welcome back to the Naked Marriage podcast. I'm excited about this.

I've been in a naked marriage recording, so.

I know, I know.

Here I am. I'm back.

I'm so glad.

Well, we are so glad. So glad to see you. I know you are my mother in law's favorite person.

This is true.

Mary, if you're listening.

Hey, Mar.

She watches on YouTube now.

She always asks about us.

She's gonna be so excited right now.

Yeah.

So we all love you.

Shout out to Mary. We went on an exo cruise together several years ago. Bill and Barry are amazing.

We had a good time. We had a great time dancing, having a good time. Go to the Mediterranean. And by the way, we may do that again. So stay tuned for the exo cruise.

I'm excited about the possibilities of that.

Yes. Well, let's talk about friendship. Like, where do you want to start, sweetie? Friendship with singles. When it comes to, like, relating to each other and what we can learn from each other. Because I literally have never met a person who does it better. And like, when I watch you and Your friends, like I've talked to you about this before. It just warms my heart. Like, I feel like it's just awesome.

Yeah, it really, really is. And so you've got a unique perspective as a single guy working full time in a marriage ministry and many of your closest friends are married folks and so just wanted to learn your perspective on that. So before we get there though, give us the quick bio, like the quick Marcus bio of. Well, you know, start from wherever you want, but you know, from. Let's start in college, like from college on what's your adult life looked like?

Yeah, I think college is a good place to start because I feel like that's where a lot of these relationships began. And so went to Abilene Christian University out in Abilene, Texas. Go Wildcats.

Go Wildcats.

This year is my 10 year college reunion.

Nice.

So going to homecoming soon and so crazy that it's already been 10 years. Yeah. And then, yeah, this in fact this year is my nine year anniversary here at exo and so started pretty soon after college working here. Did not plan to come work for a marriage ministry, nor was I necessarily looking for that. But it's been really cool over the years to still be here. I mean, I don't think I imagined working my first full time adult job for nine years. Yeah, most of my friends have already had multiple jobs by now and so started out as a video editor on the creative team for many years, part of production and producing the podcasts and things like that. And then now get to lead our events team, which is a lot of fun and doing our events is what I love the most. And so getting to see all of the couples that we get to impact throughout the year. But then, you know, seeing them come, seeing them at events and seeing the work that we do every day here at the EXO Marriage center come to life in people's lives at these events is so rewarding to see and so fun to be part of. So yeah, during college really made the best friends of my life. And over.

You've got some here and some are.

Here in the studio today watching my best friend James, his wife Molly. And so it's just been cool to see these lifelong friendships that formed so many years ago still continue today through all kinds of different things in all of our lives, we've all been through different things, different ways of life, different physically living in different places, but still valuing those relationships. And so yeah, excited to talk about that today.

Yeah. And that's a. You're a masterclass on Friendship in a world where it's so easy to fall out of touch with people, even when we mean well. You know, I've had great friends through the years that I've just. I've fallen out of touch with, you know, and it's my fault. You know, life will get busy or get doing other things. But you, you have been so intentional about fostering, nurturing relationships, even as, like you said, geographical location changed, even as marital status has changed and different things change, that could have been a barrier. You've made those friendships grow even stronger. And so what advice just on friendship do you have before we kind of jump into singleness? Married stuff, Just on friendship. Because you do this exceptionally well.

Yeah, you do.

Well, I think for me, I just have learned the value of relationships, and I think that's part of why I love working at XO so much, is because so much of what we talk about, yes. Is about marriage, but so many of those principles can be applied to relationships in general. And so when I think about friendship, like, I know I need people in my life that I can't go at it alone. And so that was something that during college, I really learned, because growing up before college, I was pretty quiet, pretty shy, didn't have, like, a lot of close friends. And then in college is, as my mom would say, is when I blossomed.

That's good.

That's when I, you know, saw really saw the value of friendship and then have just really made a point to continue those relationships. And it is work. It's hard work to continue to stay in touch. But it's really cool that once you have that, like, that heart connection with somebody. Honestly, my best friend James, who's here today, is one of those great examples. They lived in Ireland for two years, and it was honestly during that time that our friendship grew the most because we were consistently talking via Zoom or Skype. Back in the day, Skype before Zoom was a thing, you know, like, every other week. And during that time, it just really showed the importance of what friendship is. It's not about physically always being together, but just having that personal connection, being invested in people's lives, knowing what's going on, praying for each other. And so, yeah, I think, you know, being able to invest in relationships is something that I see as one of the most important things in life. You're never, like, you can invest in so many different things. But relationships, yes, can be messy and, yes, can be hard, but they're also some of the most rewarding things that you can have in Your life. And so, yeah, so I value people and connection and experiences with people a lot more than just the things in life.

Well, I think is how that's living, you know, and, and building on those relationships. You know, one thing I love that you do, you love travel. And like we love travel too. We have that in common with you. But you will go with different friends to amazing places and it's so cool. I love that because I think there's something really special, like when you go someplace new together and you're seeing it together and you have this experience, it grows your friendship in a unique way. And I've seen you do that over and over and it's so cool. And I love living vicariously through you with your pictures and so stuff. It's so cool.

Yeah. You just went to Europe with a.

Friend and all kinds of places, all over Europe. It was amazing.

Yeah, I love it. It's so good. What do you think? So in the church, for whatever reason, it seems like we self segregate so often as married couples over here, single people over here, and we miss out on the depth of friendship that can happen and still happen, keep growing even as marital statuses change and whatnot. What do you think people are missing out on? Or, you know, what would you say to those folks who maybe just feel like, well, you know, I'm single, so all my friends need to be single, or I'm married, so all my friends need to be married.

Yeah, I think like, you're just missing out on so much. If that's how you feel about that, it's very limiting. And that's something that over the years, you know, I've seen in churches is, you know, you know, they have a young adults ministry, but by young adults, they mean single young adults. And I'm like, what? It's young adults. If it's, it's, it's for. If that's what you're calling it, then why does that affect your relationship status?

Right, right.

And something I've learned is just over the years, like my friends that have gotten married, a lot of us became like close friends before everyone started getting married, which I think has contributed. Contributed to how deep that friendship is. But you know, as friends have gotten married, we still learn so much from each other. We have different perspectives on certain things, but there's still so much of life that we are experiencing. The same things in just our generation is all like learning different things together, even regardless of our relationship status. So something that I love is, you know, with, with my Friend group that even with my married friends, so many of the things that we talk about are related to our faith and related to the church and related to family, like, are all issues that we're all dealing with.

Right.

Yeah.

And so to be. To separate kind of the single versus married people, I think just limits your perspective on things. But also is. I think single people sometimes feel like, oh, I'm lesser than. Because I'm not with the married people.

Yeah.

When in reality, we're all going through very similar situations.

Yeah.

Yeah, of course.

And have a lot to offer to each other. And so I love being with my married friends. Those are sweet relationships that, you know, I enjoy being with. And so.

And they. And they enjoy being with you. I mean, and we. We love being with you. We love hanging out with you. And.

Absolutely.

And I think about even biblical examples of, you know, guys like you. The apostle Paul, who. Who was single throughout his life in ministry, who. Some. Some of his very close friends were couples. He was close to Priscilla and Aquila. He was some of the couples that ministered to him, that supported him, that allowed him to stay with him. Like, some of the most meaningful relationships in his life were with. With married people. And Scripture gives us really a lot of examples like that. And I think we are missing out. We're missing out. If we just kind of self segregate and say, no, people have to be in my exact same season of life, exact same marital status, exact same this or that or else. Really, we can't be friends because we don't have stuff in common or whatever. When we're just missing out. It's so limiting, like Marcus said.

Definitely. I would like to. If you're open to talking about this for, you know, we mainly have a married audience. We do have a lot of single people who want. Maybe want to be married someday, who listen as well. But I would love for you to speak into, like, what it's like to be a single person living in America.

Right now and even dating, even in the dating scene.

Like, what's. What's it like?

It is, I would say, on the dating scene is. Is. Is. Is weird. If I can even just. Just say that, like, it is challenging. And it has changed so much, I think, and just even in the last five to six years, really, I think, you know, growing up, I kind of envisioned my life of go to college, then think about marriage, get married around the age of 25, have kids by 30. Here I am, 32, not married, and like, navigating the dating world. And I think growing up in the church, there's, you know, this certain kind of Christianese expectation on people to get married in their 20s. And like if you're still single when you hit 30, oh well then you're, you're ancient by then. You're probably never getting married. When in reality there's so many more single people today.

Oh yeah.

In America and around the world, average age of marriage. Average age of marriage is getting later and later.

Right, right.

And so I think the, the church and outside the church kind of has differing, differing statistics on that. But the reality is that in our world today, a lot of people are getting married later. And so I think that I'm kind of going off track here of what we're, what we were just talking about.

No, you're good. I mean, just what it's like to be single. Like some of the hurdles that you're facing that we may not know. Like as married people.

Blind spots. Blind spots. Married people would have.

I think we have a lot of them.

Yeah, sure.

So, yeah, I think when it comes to just being single, we single people enjoy being with married people. I think maybe that's. Yeah, that's a myth there that people think, oh well, they single people just want to be. Hang out with their single friends and they probably don't want to come hang out with us and all our crazy kids. And yeah, you know, we come to come over to our house where we can't go out and do stuff and party till late at night.

Right, right.

All single people are not going out and partying, Partying, you know, till late at night. I am usually in bed by 9pm and so I think that's a myth that a lot of maybe married people have about single people. And I think just kind of speaking to the dating scene for single people that has changed dramatically kind of in the last few years with so much more online dating. Yeah, online dating is this interesting thing of like kind of hit or miss. I know several people who have gotten, gotten married.

Sure, sure.

Through meeting their spouse on a dating app. And I've been on some dates with people that I've met on dating apps that have been good. But there's also like a lot of just interesting people out there and it's just, you know, initiating conversation and trying to get to know somebody over a dating app is just so different than meeting somebody in person.

Yeah, yeah.

And for me, I'm so much of a face to face person of hey, let's get together, let's talk. And I Like, can pick up on people's body language.

Right.

And you know, how they talk and kind of how they carry themselves. And over a dating app, when you're basically just having a text conversation with somebody that you do not know at all, it is really hard to kind of figure out, okay, is this person legit? Are they not? Like, am I interested in this person? And honestly, it's been, like, it is difficult, I think, for me, as someone who really is, like, just attracted to people in general, whether it's, hey, I want to be friends with that person, or, hey, I want to get to know that person better.

Sure.

So, like, that's all through physical connection and personal conversation. And it's hard sometimes to even have any bit of attraction just by looking at somebody's picture and having.

Yeah, it feels so distant and. Exactly. I get that.

And so, you know, people. I think that's another thing that maybe married people think about single people is, oh, dating isn't that hard. Like, why can't you meet somebody? Why. Why can't, you know, why don't you just get on any app and you.

Can easily find somebody? Just a little. You shared with me about, you know, some of the experiences, and just that it is so stressful and exhausting. And I mean, I'm sorry. Like, I'm just sorry that, like, I'm so thankful we dated in the dark ages where, I mean, I guess didn't exist, because it would have. It would have stressed me out so much to swipe this that way and do this and that. And it's just, oh, man, this seems. This is just a lot.

Well, and do you find this, Marcus? I've heard this in talking with some other people who are single, in their 30s, just like yourself, and I remember them saying, like, some of the dating norms and how you approach. Like, how men approach women and how women approach men have changed. And sometimes like a traditional. I mean, I guess, for lack of a better word, a traditional way of, like, you meet somebody in a restaurant, like the hostess, and you find her attractive, and so you frequent that restaurant because you're like, she seems nice, and you get to know her, and then you make that jump to ask her out. I've heard some people say, because that is considered so traditional, it's not like how a lot of people are meeting these days that sometimes it's taken the wrong way. Have you had that experience a little bit that it's almost like, why would you come up to me? You should have just asked for my Snapchat like, why would you come up to me like that? No, I mean, literally. Like, almost like, we had a friend of ours talking about her son, just really doing those same steps. And the girl told her manager he was stalking her. Stalking. Because he asked her out. And it's just because for her, she was a little younger than him. And I guess for her, the norm is, like. It's like, we need lots of texting. First we gotta snap first we gotta do something else. And he's like, I've been to this restaurant 10 times and not even like, oh, man. Only sat in her section. Like, I just thought. When we did talk, it was nice. And I just thought. I told Dave, I said, for our boys, I'm, like, worried. Like, I was like, that sounds really intimidating. And honestly, to be. Our son. Cooper is 18. He sensed some of this, and he's like, it's intimidating. I mean, do you. What would you say about that?

Yeah, I think I've seen that in. Not necessarily personally, but just kind of observing.

Yes.

Like, groups of people and observing especially kind of in young. Like, young adults. Groups of people and just friends that. I know how there's a lot more caution these days. I feel like. Especially from the women of. Oh, don't get too close to me. And almost like, you have to, like, you can't come on too strong, right?

Yes.

You can't come on too strong or be too direct. And I think for men, we like to be. Hey, communicate. Be direct and just say. Say what we mean and pursue.

It used to be like, tell guys, pursue. And now that's considered stalking.

Exactly. Yeah, apparently. And so it's almost like having to navigate this weird, like, oh, I want to pursue this girl, but am I coming on too strong? Is it now? Do I need to be more cautious? But then it's. And it's so hard to figure out what people want these days.

Right.

Because then, like, for example, I went on a date with a girl. I asked her out, said, hey, can I take you out? And then, you know, at the end of the. At the end of the date, it's like, oh, I wasn't sure if that was a date or not.

And.

And it's just like, well, that's what. That's what I said.

And I couldn't be clearer.

And so it. There's this weird. I don't know. I think there's just a lot of things contributing to that. Some of that, as you mentioned, kind of like just things going on in our world today that I think people are More careful. But when it's even within groups of people where you, like, already know the person and are somewhat familiar, like, no, they're not a crazy person, there's still this level of like, having to almost like walking that fine line of figuring out, okay, how do I pursue?

Gosh, this sounds so complicated.

While, you know, while trying to communicate as best I can.

Sure. And not scare them away, because.

Exactly.

I'm trying to pursue but not be too strong. I mean, that is a little intimidating.

It is.

And you know, I know you have a lot of married friends, but you have single friends as well, you know. Do you find ghosting happening? Because I hear that ghosting is happening a lot. Where. And for those who don't know what I'm talking about, like, where you've communicated and you seem. You feel like we're hitting it off, maybe you've even been on a date, and they disappear.

They literally don't respond back to you responding.

Do you find that that is so.

Much more common these days? Yes, that is very common. Especially in the dating app where world where you'll be having a conversation with somebody and you're going back and forth, you think, oh, things are going well. And like you said, even people will go out. And then there's just no communication afterwards.

Yeah.

And that's so demoralizing.

Yeah. I personally haven't really experienced that, but I know a lot of people who have.

Yeah.

And that's why I appreciate, like, clear communication. Right.

Yeah.

And there are people out there. The good news is there are people.

Out there like that that want to also be cleared.

Exactly.

And so, like, those of you who are single and are watching and listening to this, don't be discouraged. I think it's good to know going in though. And I would, you know, what I would tell to somebody is like, if they ghost you, I guess it's better to know now that you know they're not obviously your person. If it's gonna go like that, don't go wrong. But it's still hurtful. And you feel like, what did I. But I think it's easy to take it personally. Like, I think putting myself in the position, what did I do? And then. And then you never get any resolution. You don't even know what you did, if you did anything, you know, so it's. Yeah, it's wild. It's the wild west out there in the dating world.

Yes, it is. Well, so when you're. You just. You in particular thinking about you're going to be an Amazing husband and father.

Like, amazing 100%.

When, you know, when God brings, you know, the right lady into your life. And for those. You're giving hope right now to single ladies out there that are saying, like, there are just no good guys out there. And I'm like, the best guy I know is single.

Because you met Marcus.

But what are you looking for in a partner, in a wife, when you feel like, when God brings in his timing that woman into your life, what character traits, personality traits? Are you. Are you thinking that, you know, when she walks in and be like, oh, there she is.

Yeah. I mean, for me, the big ones, of course, are someone who loves Jesus.

Oh, yeah.

Loves the Lord and is living for him. Outgoing, extroverted. I'm more introverted. I call myself an extroverted introvert.

Yes, I could see that.

And so when I'm with my people, like, that energizes me. But being in large crowds of people drains my energy pretty quick, so. But I am attracted to people who usually like to be the center of attention and are more extroverted, outgoing. Definitely somebody who loves to travel.

As you mentioned earlier.

You're quite the adventurer. Likes to go on adventures. Also loves hosting and, like, gathering people because that's something that I really enjoy. Having people in my home having dinner parties, things like that. That's fun. Those are the big things for me. Those right there are like the top highlights that I always look for. I think kind of going off a little bit from that. I think sometimes we can get too caught up in the specifics of what we're looking for in somebody that we easily write somebody off.

Yeah, you dismiss them too quickly because you have this idea in your head. And if they're not this. If they don't have these physical characteristics and these personality traits, and then it can't be the right person when God might have the perfect mate for you. And it's nothing like you're thinking. She's nothing like your thinking.

And I think I've found over the years that kind of my. What I was looking for, some of those things that I thought were important, I've realized aren't as important. Yes, the main core values are still there, but I feel like that list has kind of narrowed over the years. Not in a compromising way, but just in a more mature way of seeing relationships and seeing what truly matters.

Yeah. So good.

And so those are my main things for you.

I think that's awesome. And that's just having wisdom, too. I think it's just being Wise, like in what really, really matters, you know, when we were talking about this, I thought about JJ and Kate Tomlin of the Heart of Dating podcast. They'll be great resource for single people. Great resource. And we've actually gotten to spend. We had dinner with them. They're an amazing couple, but I love how Kate's very honest. And even jj, it's like they really, like. If you had had a list they maybe wouldn't have made. They wouldn't have met all those things on the list for each other. But she said, like, she felt when she. Because JJ really pursued her, and at first she was like, he is just not what I typically date. He's just not like the guys I typically date. But she said that she really prayed about it, and she felt like God was saying, you're getting too clingy with this list. Just give him a chance. Because maybe he has those main things, but he's just a little bit different. And she's like, thank God I gave it a chance. Because she's like, I just would have missed out on this amazing mate that God had for me. And I think. I love that they're so honest about that.

Yeah. The way they tell it, it's so sweet, because it is.

People need to know that.

She's like, yeah, she had this idea of my head, and he was almost none of those things.

Right, Right.

But he's the perfect guy for me.

He's such a sweet match.

Yeah. They're so in love.

I want to say one thing real quick, like those, you know, single people who are watching and listening, I think sometimes they can feel like their life is not beginning or it just hasn't really. It hasn't begun yet because they're not married. You know what I'm saying? And I love that you, Marcus, and you, please, you know, in your own words, speak to this. But the way that, as your friend, just watching you live your life, I don't believe you live that way. I think you live a full life wanting, you know, to possibly be married one day, but not your life is full as is. Like, you are living a full life for the Lord as a single person. And I just. I think that that's so. It's so inspirational for. I mean, just as your friend, watching that. But I think to other people, because I do think sometimes we can get stuck thinking, why haven't I met that person? And what's wrong with me? And, you know, gosh, another year passed that I'm not married. But I think it's so important to look at being single as a gift too. I mean, there's a lot of things you can do as a single person that maybe as a married person you wouldn't be able to do. So, I mean, what would you say to somebody who's down on, on being single?

Yeah, I, I love what you said there. Like, your life is not on hold, right? When, when you're single and wanting to be married, there's still so much life to live. There's so many relationships to be built. And I think that's something that I've learned. I think over the years I've had those moments where I have felt down or depressed of like, gosh, I feel, God, what are you doing here? Like, I feel like something should be happening. And then there's other times, you know, where I've felt like I was right in the middle of where God wants me right now. And so, yeah, I, it's, it is so true. Do not just sit around and, and wait for your life to start.

Right?

One of the perks of being single is being able to do things like. Just recently went on a two week trip to Europe. A buddy said, hey, I want to go. This is one of my college buddies, he's also single. And we both had talked about wanting to travel to Europe and see some places there. So we're like, yeah, let's do it. And so I didn't have to ask anybody. I knew what my budget was. I knew I could get my time off from work and I'm off. And so whereas, you know, some of my married friends that have kids obviously can't just up and do that with somebody else.

It's a different, different reality. There are, there are benefits and blessings in every, every season, every season, in every situation.

And I think it's cool too. Like, one of the things that, I think married people and single people can like, get out of each other is having those relationships. You, you can serve each other in different ways. Whereas, like, married couple that has a bunch of kids might, you know, have, have nights where things are crazy, but they want like some, you know, are having friends over. And it's easy for me to say, hey, I'll pick up dinner, y' all, don't worry about it. I can easily just swing by after work, pick up dinner and bring it over. But then there's also times when they're saying, hey, we're cooking a big meal. You come over, join us, come join us. We've got food, don't worry about it. And So I think, think that's another cool part of having those different relationships and friendships, of seeing ways that you can help encourage each other and serve each other, that maybe you couldn't if you were both were in the same type of marital status.

You know, Dave and I, because we knew we were going to be interviewing you, we were talking about this, you know, how families embracing their single friends, you know, and it brought back memories of one of my dads best childhood friends. His name was Mike Kilbourne. He's sadly passed away years ago. But my parents, like, he was single the whole time that I've known him. And I think he never married. But my dad just. They had this sweet friendship and he would come over from time to time because they were cooking a big dinner. And he took a special interest in me because my dad little background. He has an engineering background. And with Mike they would do these music festivals and Mike did voiceover work and he was a techie like my dad. And at the time when I was a little girl, I loved to sing. And Mike would sometimes record me. Like he would set up a little recording thing with my dad and encourage my singing. And then he did local commercials and he would include me and include my family in these local commercials. And so he was a part of our family's life. And then I remember when I was going after college, I was having the hardest time finding my first job. And my dad happened to mention it to Mike. And Mike called me one day and was like, listen, I have this lead and this lead apply to these places. I know somebody, I'm gonna put in a good word for you. And I just think about just sharing life, you know, and it's. You know, I was telling Dave, I said I never even thought of him as a single person. Like, it wasn't like I was like, Mike, parents, single friend. Like I didn't even think about that. It was like Mike, the friend of our family, you know, And I just thought, I'm so glad that he was, you know, a friend to our family. He was a wonderful friend. My mom was talking about him the other day, like, man, he was such a good guy. And I'm so glad that he was part of our lives. And so it just, I think it's really. We're cutting ourselves off from even our children from benefiting from all these different friends, whether they're married or not. I mean, I just think that we all need to take. To take a note from Marcus and his friends and how they roll.

We can learn A lot.

And like you said, I like how you said serving each other, too, because we all really, you know, we can serve each other in different ways we didn't even think of.

I love being the honorary uncle to my friend's kids.

And they said, uncle Marcus. I know, because the little. Their little boys in the green room. So precious little Nolan.

I was over at the last night, and, you know, I pull up and they said, did you bring presents?

Oh, yeah.

So, you know, I'm in the category as the grandparents.

That's so sweet.

Getting in trouble for buying the kids things.

Yeah.

And that's one of the fun things.

Everybody's fun uncle.

That's right.

Yes.

That's the best. That is the best.

Well, Marcus, you left off one important criteria about what your future wife has to have, and I'm a little hurt that you left it off.

Oh, I know what you're about to say.

If you want to share that.

What is it?

I don't want to say. I don't want to be the one to say it, so I'll let you say it.

Oh, my gosh.

That my future wife has to agree to having Dave Willis officiate the wedding.

Oh, yes.

That's right. You heard it here. You heard it here. I don't care if your dad's a pastor. Oh, my God. He can just give you a wedding.

Doesn't matter.

He's a Dave Willis guy. Sorry.

This is our guy, right?

All right, I'm in. I can't wait. I can't wait. I can't wait to meet you.

That's right. And there will probably be some emails coming in.

Yeah, I'm sure there will.

The most eligible bachelor.

He is the most eligible bachelor. Would you be for those who want to just follow your adventures or send you a video explaining why they are the woman that God has for you? Would you be interested in giving your Instagram.

He's like, I don't know.

Sure.

Anybody can find me on Instagram. So I believe it is MarcusGboen.

Yeah.

Marcus G. Bowen. Check it out.

You can follow us. Ave and Ashley Willis and look at any of our posts. And Marcus is kind enough to like most of our posts.

This is true.

In fact, I get hurt when he doesn't like.

You got that, friend?

Where this is offensive because Marcus didn't like it.

Do I look bad in this picture or did I say something offensive? Marcus didn't like this. So you can. Yeah. If you type it in wrong, go to ours and you'll find Marcus and We like his as well. Of course we do. Marcus, thank you for just the man of integrity you are, the friend you are, the incredible asset you are to this team and the light you are in the world. And we're honored to call you a friend. I can't wait to officiate your wedding. And in the meantime, I know God's got. He's got great, great adventures for you. So thank you, my friend, for being here.

Thanks. Appreciate it. And before we. Before we end, I do want to say brag on you guys real quick since you've already talked about me, that Dave and Ashley are the real deal. I've been in their house, been Dave Prince. Whenever I have stayed at your house, Dave prints out a picture of me to put on the door. Or the Bowen Suite. There's food and drinks waiting on the bed. Like it's like staying at a five star resort. I hope so. I hope so. Yes. Love Yalls. Friendship and just the hospitality y' all have, the welcoming friendship that you have with so many of us on the XO team. But I value y' all very much and just grateful to be co workers and friends with y'.

All. Well, we love you.

We love you, too.

We are so grateful for you and.

We love all of you guys, our listeners and thank you for being part of this community. Yeah. Yeah. So tell your. Send this out to maybe some single friends in your life. Just say I thought this conversation was really meaningful and tell them I'm thankful for your friendship.

Yes.

And I thought that you'd enjoyed this episode. So send it out. And we appreciate and love you guys. We'll see you next time.

Bye, guys.