single focused

It was this quote from Samuel Johnson's Rasselas on singleness that helped me finally decide to do it.
"To live without feeling or exciting sympathy, to be fortunate without adding to the felicity of others, or afflicted without tasting the balm of pity, is a state more gloomy than solitude; it is not retreat, but exclusion from mankind. Marriage has many pains, but celibacy has no pleasures."

Yep. I'm going to write a book. I'm going to write a book about being single. Truly there are many great authors who have written on this subject. (Elisabeth Elliot's Quest for Love; Margaret Clarkson's So You're Single as just a couple of examples) They give Biblical advice and wisdom about having the correct perspective on this situation. In no way can anything that I have to say compare to what one of these godly women has to say on this subject. I'm not going to write a "how to be single" book or a "why are you single" book or even a "how to not be single anymore" book. I really don't know enough to do that. I'd just like to write a memoir type book that gives a view into what types of issues single Christians face, an easily read, interesting book that would let another married Christian understand how to better help me to glorify God. I'd like it to be a book filled with humor and contentment, not complaints, that another single Christian could read and be encouraged in the joy of the Lord. I've always thought that I'd better wait to write. Someday when I have more wisdom, more holiness, more discretion, more experience, then I'll write. But I guess it wouldn't hurt me to express myself on an issue, knowing that as I grow in the Lord that I will understand more and that I will probably change my mind with added maturity someday.

I'm just letting you know way in advance about my book writing intentions, so don't get too excited yet. I don't even know all of the topics which will be covered in this epic. Chapter possibilities include:
Hospitality and the Single Christian--Do it. How to do it. How to extend it to singles you know. Special feature of this chapter includes the sad poem "Sunday Afternoon, The Loneliest Hours".

"If You Were Only _________" (thinner, fatter, holier, happier, prettier, smarter, quieter, louder, you fill in...)--Advice given by well meaning people who love you on how to catch a man. How to give it to a single person. How not to give it to a single person. How to grow from it as a single person. How not to focus upon it as a single person.

The Joy of Children-- Enjoy the children in your church. Rejoice even in not having children. Be a blessing as a babysitter. Don't make a career of babysitting.

Friday night adventures-- what can Christian singles find to do for fun while everyone else is out getting drunk? Lots of great personal experience stories here.

Fighting the sins that will destroy you-- discontent, bitterness, sexual immorality, rebellion.

Well, my ignorance is already showing. Maybe I won't write. But I'll think about it. If this project is something I believe will contribute to God's glory maybe I will try it out.