Waiting for love.

I've often come across young people who are losing hope in their search for that one person they want to spend their lives with. After what seems like endless episodes of heartache and being used, the hope that once burned so brightly inside them begins to wane. It's a confusing and painful experience, for there are many who sense the call to the vocation of raising a Godly family, and how can they do that without finding their spouse?

The calling to building a Christian home is a fine one, one that is often overlooked among the virtues of the work of the Church. Much emphasis is put on those who are called to dedicate themselves to Christ either as religious or priestly individuals. However it is truly the Christian parents who further the future of the church. The role of husband/wife, mother/father is truly one of the most difficult vocations out there, and those called to it are blessed with a great responsiblity.

But those who are actively seeking their Christian lifemate already know what a blessing it would be to have their partner, perhaps so much so that they are missing out on the blessings of being single. Life is a journey, and while marriage may be the worthy and exciting end goal, one should not miss all the beauty of the single walk. The time of aloneness before marriage is a time of growth and maturing, during which one prepares themself for a walk that will be with another for the rest of their lives. Each part of the journey which God calls us on is a blessed, filled with opportunity and promise. Even when we mess up and stray from God's perfect plan, He can take the bad, break it down and mold it into something beneficial.

So enjoy whatever stage of life you are in, whether it be single, married or with children. When you enter the next stage, there is no going back. But the richness of the previous stage can have profound influence on your current steps, so don't overlook any opportunities on your quest to reach the next level.

For those who are finding the wait difficult, I would encourage you to take comfort in the arms of Christ and our Blessed Mother. Within their loving and waiting arms is perfect fulfillment and grace. It's the perfect place to be while waiting for the arms of the one He's created for you. Amen.

Vincent Christian.