Back from Retreat

I just got back from a retreat with my church. As usual, God had lessons to teach and I definitely learned a lot and was reminded of the important things in life.

It's getting late so I won't get into too much detail, but there was a special seminar about being single - the conference speaker himself was a 30-something single man, so he brought some good perspective on that topic.

We went over 1 Corinthians 7 vv.1-11 and vv.25-40. What really hit home for me were vv.32-35:

"I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord's affairs—how he can please the Lord. But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife— and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord's affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband. I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord."

I didn't really start grasping this until last year, when I started interacting more with friends who are married with or without kids in my post-undergraduate life. I realized these married friends have a companionship/intimacy that I as single person do not have, but they are also handcuffed in what they used to be able to when they were single, i.e. while being single is often seen as a time to get ready for marriage, that time as a single person can be quite fulfilling and advantageous as well. Instead of having to balance time between you and your spouse/children with people outside of your immediate family, the single person can use the tremendous flexibility in time and priorities while they are single to build friendships, mentor young people, help with children's ministry, go visit orphans, widows, elderly, and veterans, and so much more.

Contentment in either situation - married or single - have difficulties in their own unique ways. But I'm glad I am seeing the glass half full on both sides of the line and am looking forward to letting this renewed perspective help me live my life to the fullest for His glory.