I am a hypocrite

In the past I've gotten very upset with organizations that have labeled me as "single". Mostly because I've felt they filter everything else they know or didn't know about me through that one fact about my life. It felt similar to when people introduce me as Gardner's sister when they know him before meeting me, but the difference is being Gardner's sister doesn't bring a negative connotation with it. My brother is generally a cool person. I would guess that is how people of a minority ethnicity feel. It is not a good feeling. I happen to enjoy being single just as much as I like being Gardner's sister as I'm sure minority people enjoy the unique cultural experiences their origin provides. Nothing boils my temper more (other than maybe Desperate Housewives) then people look at me with sorry eyes and a pitiful tone of voice like I'm missing my arms just because my arm isn't attached to another someone. Socially or physically my needs are not much different from people with a significant other. In fact, generally my life is simpler and easier to manage.

My point to this post?

At the risk of sounding like a hypocrite I went to my church's single gathering last night. I have been going to my church for almost a year and a half. My church is HUGE. By huge I mean it has 3 different sites each with 2 Sunday morning services. I never would have thought I'd ever go to a "super church" but I have found, in my opinion only, that my big church as a big view of the world and my BIG God. The focus on individual growth, world evangelism, and social responsibility as Christians is not only refreshing, but available and realistic. Do I miss that small family like atmosphere? Sometimes, but it was there I felt singled out as a young, single independent female. Small churches tend to look at the success of large churches (and by success I just mean the number of people in the pews) and think they have to offer the same programs and structure. However in reality, at least at my church, the programs and structures are there purely out of the necessity to connect to other people. Small churches shouldn't need 10 or even 5 different programs with only 2-10 people in each. The beauty of a small church is the strength of a family. The beauty of my big church is the singles (or mothers, children, men etc.) in the church can fill a sanctuary just with themselves. It felt wonderful to sit in a room packed full of people coming together with the same purpose-to use our gift of singleness for God's glory.