Due to popular demand (as in at least 2 people asked for it), I've been compelled to expand upon a comment I made in an earlier thread about people not being seen as mature until they're married. Someone also brought up to me the idea of being responsible as a huge part of that maturity. That the unmarried are seen as avoiding responsibility while those who marry, by the very act of marriage are viewed as being ready and able to handle increased responsibility. And along with that we should also address the idea of marriage as a rite of passage into adulthood, so that for many singles it seems like the first and sometimes only question people ask us when catching up with us is some variant of, “So are you seeing anyone?”
So are there ways that people have intentionally or unintentionally made you feel like less of an adult because of your singleness? Are there leadership or ministry opportunities that you feel you've been overlooked for because the people doing the choosing wanted a married couple in that position (rightly or wrongly)? Do you see singleness as a way of avoiding commitment and responsibility? Would such avoidance be wisdom (you aren't committing to something you know you can't handle) or cowardice (you aren't willing to be stretched and grown)? And because I'm a fixer and a solver, what can we do to counter any prejudice against singles when we do encounter it?
So are there ways that people have intentionally or unintentionally made you feel like less of an adult because of your singleness? Are there leadership or ministry opportunities that you feel you've been overlooked for because the people doing the choosing wanted a married couple in that position (rightly or wrongly)? Do you see singleness as a way of avoiding commitment and responsibility? Would such avoidance be wisdom (you aren't committing to something you know you can't handle) or cowardice (you aren't willing to be stretched and grown)? And because I'm a fixer and a solver, what can we do to counter any prejudice against singles when we do encounter it?