Viewing Life as a Brownie???
I recently had a discussion of where I am in life and where I would like to be. I have a lot of rewarding activities to fill my days: a rewarding job that is meaningful, a loving family and friends that give me great joy, a relationship with God and Christ that make life truly meaningful and hopeful, a church family that provides opportunities for service and encouragement, a level of economic comfort that gives me a degree of freedom of choice, very good health, and hobbies that fill my days. So what do I need with a more intimate relationship?

I no longer have a companion to share an intimate meal with and open my heart to discuss the days activities, concerns, successes, or failures. I have no one to remind me of social obligations - no one for whom to cook my specialties, or to encourage me to be all that I can be, instead of just "good enough." That is, no one except myself and my knowledge of who I really serve. It is not that my life is in any way "bad" or even "not good", it is just that it is not complete. That's when I came up with the brownie comparison.

I really like a good brownie. (Not that I eat them often - it just takes too much exercise to work them off.) Good, dark, rich, crunchy on the outside, chewey on the inside brownies. But I REALLY like good brownies with lots of nuts - preferably black walnuts; but English walnuts will do if the quantity is sufficient. So, my life is like a good brownie, but without the nuts. It would be so much better and more satisfying if there were someone to complete and fill the empty spaces that make up a portion of my life - someone to try to please, to delight, to cherish - someone who would delight in my company and efforts. It is not that I need nursing, smothering, or even to be needed - I need to be enjoyed and to contribute to their joy - to hold accountable and be held accountable.

I would hope that every Christian Single would feel just that way. That Christ and His Way provide a truly meaningful life that is motivated to do every task as though Jesus Himself were the supervisor. That all that it would take to make the life complete would be a "suitable helper" to work alongside, not necessarily at the same task; but rather at the same vocation of pleasing God. Someone to share the "break times" with. Someone to remind of the needed rest breaks. Someone to jawbone with during lunch. NEVER someone else to do the work so they could goof off or simply supervise.

Now obviously, not everyone likes brownies. Not everyone like nuts. Some people like ice cream or whipped cream with their brownies to make them "perfect". Whatever! Just realize that to have a healthy complete life, one shoud have a life that is almost complete and healthy without that special garnish, and then be prepared to be that special garnish to someone else who is healthy and almost complete. Of course, without spiritual health, none of this would matter.