The Weight of Waiting
Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that lay before Him endured a cross and despised the shame and has sat down at the right hand of God’s throne. Heb. 12:1-2
In my life, singleness can be a pretty hefty weight to carry around. The heaviness doesn’t come from singleness itself, but the desire for things that are not there (spouse, children, etc). Heaviness can also come through expectations from our society (what’s wrong with me, I’m too old, etc) and the intentions of well-meaning people who want to match you up with every single person that comes into their range of vision. Sometimes this weight gets to be a bit much to bear.
However, I also have to look at the weight that I don’t have to carry because I’m single. The weight of spousal expectations, the weight of worry that comes with having children, the weight of sharing one’s life with someone else. Marriage and singleness are on a scale, and people will differ on which side is the heaviest.
It may sometimes seem that you or I are the only one on this path. It feels like we are alone in the universe and everyone else is paired up with another person. But that’s the beauty of Christianity. We are not the only ones that have travelled this path. We are not traveling this path alone. We have examples of people who have walked the same path and people around us to help us. Sometimes we may have to look a little closer at the people around us, or maybe look in places where we have not looked before.
Wow. Good thoughts.
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