You're Thinking TOO HARD!

Once again, I found myself browsing an article that dealt with the subject matter of being single and seeking a mate. I'm not sure what there is new to say on the subject - but apparently this guy thought differently. He gave a personal account of praying and fasting before he asked a girl out on a date.

This isn't something unheard of in the practices of modern evangelical mating (or in this guy's instance - the lack thereof). My heart was suddenly burdened. What if I chose my friends using the model that most uber evangelicals use to choose their potential mate. I know what you're saying....,"Beth, there is SO MUCH MORE at stake!"

But - is there really?

I am currently dating a very wonderful man. (I won't be the girl who gushes... so trust me on this one.) At the same time - I have a a best friend who knows more about me than Wonderful Man does. Part of the reason is that we've known each other for 12 years. She knows every dirty secret. Yep - every single one. And while physical intimacy isn't on the docket for this same-sex relationship - every other type of intimacy is.It could be argued that bestfriendships closely mirror marriages. Don't "they" always say that you should marry your best friend? While I can't (legally) marry my best girlfriend - I can discourage others from choosing a mate in a way that one chooses a friend.

Just hear me out, okay? I met my best friend randomly. She was the first person to greet me as I arrived at the new fancy-shmancy church my parents drug me to. In the following days after our initial contact, I didn't pray and fast over whether or not I should attend the next youth event with her. In fact - I've never once prayed or fasted over whether or not I should be her friend. I wasn't sure about her personal relationship with Christ for awhile. Did I let that stop my friendship with her? No. Neither did I become her bosom buddy. That part came with time. Slowly, our friendship blossomed into one of trust. Never once did I worry she'd "get the wrong idea". I'm not saying that you should seriously date the next Potential Someone that comes waltzing your way. And neither should you develop a checklist of requirements for your next best friend. Just hear what I'm saying: stop thinking too hard about all of this!