theShinalls.com

27

Playing on the iPod: "If Trouble Was Money" by Mint Condition, "Fool To Think" by Dave Matthews Band and "Don’t You (Forget About Me)" by Simple Minds.

I found a list of the 7 Deadly Sins of Blogging on another blog. I only commit on or two of these blogging no-nos. But, then again, all I blog about is me. This is my online journal. You should feel privileged to have this look into my thoughts!

I turned 27 this past Friday. I have adopted the "it’s just another day" attitude. For the most part, it was. There is no reason to look forward to my birthday. 16, 18, 21, 25…come and gone. I got ‘old’ with 26. Now, it’s just a "whatever" day.

Actually, I couldn’t help but feel a little "off" Friday night. I’ve already experienced and gotten over my season of loneliness since moving here. Brian and Stacey have been great at including me in the ritual of watching Michigan State football lose miserably. Hopefully, basketball season will be much better. The Saturday night group outing is becoming more frequent for David and I. So, I’m not really lonely like I was feeling a few months ago.

No, Friday night was different. When I attended Faith Christian Centre back in the day, they had a singles group ministry. This was the place you went if you were a disgruntled divorcee or still single after 27. When I was 20, I remember making this promise to myself: I’d never be part of the singles ministry. I hate 7 years to get my act together. Well, those 7 years have come and gone. I’m as single now as I was then. In fact, I think I’ve really begun to master the act of being single.

Of course, you look at my life 7 years later and can see that things certainly are different. My ministry focus has changed. I’m preparing to take part in Brian and Stacey’s full-time ministry. I live in Florida with a good and my own place. I’m much better at the acoustic guitar. I play the bass guitar now, too. 7 years ago, you wouldn’t have thought that I would be in the shape I’m in training for a marathon. Nor would you have thought I’d listen to Dave Matthews. Yes, things certainly are different.

Yet, Friday night, there was a sad discontent in my heart as I sat in my recliner watching "About a Boy…" At 27, I seem to be no nearer to fulfilling my desire of being married than I was at 20. It really is the same old song that I’ve been singing for years now. I suppose that I just want a woman that’s as crazy about me as I am about her – crazy enough to give each other forever.

At one point, I simply had to stop the movie and get some "carpet time" with the Lord. I just had to pour out my heart. I complained about my singleness. I thanked Him for my being here in Florida. I prayed for Brian, Stacey, and Mackenzie. Most of all, I begged for help. Nothing earth-shattering happened. There wasn’t a knock at my door from a gorgeous brunette that listens to Steven Curtis Chapman. I didn’t feel any closer to the Lord. I wasn’t magically endowed with some new spiritual ability.

I simply got up knowing that God – creator of all things great and small – just listened to my insignificant little rant as if it were the most important thing in the entire universe.