Hey Everyone,
The original 2012 thread seems to have generated some interest, but the system or moderators have closed the poll (probably due to it being an old thread), so I thought maybe our current CC crowd might be interested in answering this poll and discussing this topic. (Some of the thoughts in this post are copied from the original thread.)
I find it interesting that the term "single" can cover a wide variety of the statuses of people in very different walks of life. For instance, someone who's been single for 6 months is in a different place than someone who's been single for 6 years. In the poll (which is anonymous), I included the category, "I've been single my whole life and have never had a significant other," because that's a little different from someone who's been single 20 years but was once married or in a long-term relationship.
I am also interested in everyone's personal definition of "single": I have known some people who identify as themselves as Christians and consider themselves to be single when they are not married but are in a committed relationship.
Should a strict line be drawn between "single" and "available"? Do you consider someone who is not available but not married to still be single? What is your own definition of "single" and how long have you been in that state?
For me, "single" means not dating someone exclusively, not being married (as in, not just being separated but officially and legally divorced--I once saw a person describe herself as a "single married Christian", which had me scratching my head; but these are just my own beliefs), not being intimately involved with anyone, and not being in a relationship. I average 2-3 dates a year (staggering, I know!) but so far, it's never turned into anything beyond a possible friendship, so yes, I very much consider myself to be single.
It's funny how time flies by. When I originally wrote this poll, I talked about being single for 10 years, and as I write this current revision, I am approaching my 13th year of singleness. Not the most encouraging thing for other singles to hear, I'm sure
but I can tell you that God has worked with me a lot during every year that's passed, and even though it might not be easy, I can say with a smile that it HAS been blessed.
And I hope you will be too.
(The answers are anonymous so your answer will be kept private, and if for some reason more than one answer applies, feel free to check whatever answers fit you.)
The original 2012 thread seems to have generated some interest, but the system or moderators have closed the poll (probably due to it being an old thread), so I thought maybe our current CC crowd might be interested in answering this poll and discussing this topic. (Some of the thoughts in this post are copied from the original thread.)
I find it interesting that the term "single" can cover a wide variety of the statuses of people in very different walks of life. For instance, someone who's been single for 6 months is in a different place than someone who's been single for 6 years. In the poll (which is anonymous), I included the category, "I've been single my whole life and have never had a significant other," because that's a little different from someone who's been single 20 years but was once married or in a long-term relationship.
I am also interested in everyone's personal definition of "single": I have known some people who identify as themselves as Christians and consider themselves to be single when they are not married but are in a committed relationship.
Should a strict line be drawn between "single" and "available"? Do you consider someone who is not available but not married to still be single? What is your own definition of "single" and how long have you been in that state?
For me, "single" means not dating someone exclusively, not being married (as in, not just being separated but officially and legally divorced--I once saw a person describe herself as a "single married Christian", which had me scratching my head; but these are just my own beliefs), not being intimately involved with anyone, and not being in a relationship. I average 2-3 dates a year (staggering, I know!) but so far, it's never turned into anything beyond a possible friendship, so yes, I very much consider myself to be single.
It's funny how time flies by. When I originally wrote this poll, I talked about being single for 10 years, and as I write this current revision, I am approaching my 13th year of singleness. Not the most encouraging thing for other singles to hear, I'm sure
but I can tell you that God has worked with me a lot during every year that's passed, and even though it might not be easy, I can say with a smile that it HAS been blessed. And I hope you will be too.
(The answers are anonymous so your answer will be kept private, and if for some reason more than one answer applies, feel free to check whatever answers fit you.)
