Christmas Eve

My dear one,

Thinking of you on this balmy Christmas Eve. I enjoyed the annual tradition of watching the webcast of Tenth Presbyterian's Lessons and Carols with my parents, and am now sitting with the full moon in view. (Who knows, you could be looking at the moon right now too...)

Christmas Day will be quite low-key with my family this year, as always. One of my brothers arrives tomorrow after another Amazon shift, and a nice afternoon meal to share with my grandparents next door is in the works. Saturday may hold some family fun at the shooting range.

What traditions might you and I create together? Somehow I picture you wanting quiet and cozy -- nothing super-commercialized or materialistic. Perhaps with your family or mine, or maybe even off on our own.

But for this year, the mistletoe still awaits us... Pray for me, my dear one, as I do for you.

Waiting,
Your Evenstar

Social media: random current thoughts

My dear one, 

I've been quite tight-lipped on social media lately, feeling more and more that I don't fit the "mold," even in my Christian circles. I'm weary of being judged for my convictions, my decisions, my expectations. 


Just yesterday I "bit my virtual tongue" when one professional colleague posted a rant against holiday cards labeling her as her husband's property: 'To Mr. & Mrs. [John Smith].'" She claims to be a Christian and yet considers it "bad taste" and "gender-biased" to accept her husband's name. What I wanted to say was, "Dear [friend], may I offer you the traditional Christian view of this practice? The custom of taking the husband's name originated much earlier than English common law. In fact, God Himself initiated this pattern when He instituted marriage. 'Male and female created He them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created' (Genesis 5:2). It is not a statement about the wife being the husband's property, but rather an acknowledgement of the husband's headship within the marriage covenant. And furthermore, since a Christian marriage is a spiritual and physical union in the eyes of God, why should there be two names for one flesh?" I didn't say any of that... but perhaps I should have. It saddens me that, as a single person, I may be assumed to be a feminist who does not value or uphold the sanctity of marriage. Does my silence on the liberal views that cross my newsfeed imply my acceptance? Dear one, please know that for me to be your wife, will be to joyfully submit to your headship and honor your name. I'm eager for the day that I can show my friends that I accept and love this God-ordained order.

On the other end of the spectrum, another friend recently posted a tribute to his wife on their six-year anniversary, recounting the events leading to their marriage: "I was 31 years old, still single, and I felt like most of the ladies my age were already 'spoken for' or not interested in me. I earnestly desired to be married and had prayed many times for the Lord’s provision, but that door had been providentially closed different times in different ways. When [Jane] and I first started dating, my mother remarked a number of times, 'Here's this beautiful, godly, young lady who's been in school for a number of years. In all that time, how on earth did she not get snatched up by those guys over there?' My consistent response was, 'That's not hard to figure out, Mom. God had her saved for me.' Although I may have said that half-jokingly, I do believe that in God's perfect timing, He allowed [Jane] and me to minister in our single state for many years, but when the time was right, blessed us with the opportunity to minister together as one. I realize that God's long-term plan for some may be singleness (and in His plan, that can be a perfect path), but I would encourage the many single folks out there to be patient and wait on the Lord. His plan is perfect and His arm truly mighty to accomplish the desires of our hearts!" I sat there and cried for quite a while after reading that one, which proves that a resignation to God's will and the persistent yearnings for companionship are still doing battle in my heart. The Lord is continuing to teach me the lesson of "contentment in all things." I don't claim to have achieved that state as the Apostle Paul did ("I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content"), yet I'm growing in this journey of singleness as I uncover little by little what it means to "wait only upon God" (Psalm 62:5).

My prayers are ever for your strength, protection, and wisdom, my dear one. 
-- Your Evenstar

And the Lord will continually guide you,

And satisfy your desire in scorched places,

And give strength to your bones;

And you will be like a watered garden,

And like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.

(Isaiah 58:11 NASB)