[/quote] JOY: [I am sick of feeling like I dont fit at church. At the moment ESPECIALLY. There is a baby boom going on in my church. I hate it. ALL the women anywhere near my age are on their 1,2nd or 3rd kid now. They all sit in the 'family' corner of the church. I on the other hand dont know where to sit. All the singles are in their late teens - early 20s....I am past that.... All the older people gravitate to couples, I mean, how often do people invite singles to lunch?? Most couples ask COUPLES. Last week I went over to chat with 2 good friends who sit in the 'family corner'....the conversation was centred around baby sleeping patterns...I mean...ARGH!!!! I guess thats why I also choose to be a bit of a social hermit at the moment. (Im usually on for some fun with friends!) I live in a small town, there are NO singles around my age/stage to hang with. Christian Chat for me is a place to come where I am not judged on the basis of my status!
BUT, the advantages of singleness?? Well, yeah, there are some...I can do what I want, when I want, with the money I got...or in my case, havent got coz Im a student. But, I still yearn to be percieved as 'normal' and be married......however, I have also seen soo many unhappy marriages which also makes me thankful that I have not gone down the path of just settling for some of the guys I could have ended up with.
It is so nice to know there are others out there who face similar barriers within the Christian church.[/quote]
Im not sure if this would help Joy but when you come to Dunners next year you should come to my church and hang out with me. I think you sound awesome and I completely agree with you (even though Im 20). Sometimes I get weirdness from others because Im finally experiencing joy in just focusing on God for once. And what, Im sorry for not already being married with a bun in the oven?
Ive always wanted to just have a womens group of all ages. My group is only made of young female students.
The pressure to marry in my church is not too bad because our church is seen more as a stepping stone for students. Of course there are a few to the exception but they permanently live here. Even though Im interested in someone, I know that I have to focus on next the year and a half on my study. After that, I'll allow my self to moan and whine about marriage and when will it be my turn lol.