Cornerstone Magazine Fall 2015 | Page 24

Light, New Hampshire Sujay Natson ’16 #where’sbae On Being Single in Christ GLORIA EISSEN I recently discovered that people still go on dates? Which got me thinking… Where he at, though? From the moment I stepped foot on this campus, I’ve spent so much time being hyper-aware of the hookup culture that exists so rampantly on College Hill that I’ve failed to realize dating is still a thing. People get dressed up, go out together for a few pleasant hours, and call it a night - all while keeping their clothes on. There are people out there who are still covering the checks on date night for a shared meal without expecting reimbursement through Venmo! Pardon me if I’m sounding a little too shocked right now, but I’m just saying, I’m not a picky person - so where’s bae?! The following words are for all of you who are discouraged by your singleness and equally for all of you who couldn’t care less about it: singleness is not a waiting room. We live in a society that places such a bright spotlight on romantic relationships that it, more often than not, fails to acknowledge the value that exists in the absence of one. But your time alone - your season of solitude - serves a definite purpose. It gives you time to cultivate your character. Forgive me for sounding a bit cliché, but singleness allows you the time and space to look into yourself, to discover not only who you are, but also to see more clearly your intentions, goals, and aspirations as an individual. Let’s look to the creation story in Genesis for a brief moment here. After the light, the waters, the plants, and the animals, God went on to create a man, namely Adam, from the dust of the earth and the breath of His spirit (Gen 2:7). Adam is alone for some time, walking and talking alongside God in the garden before God sends Eve his way - but he is not left alone to live aimlessly. In the same verse where we see God placing Adam in the garden, we find Him putting Adam to work: The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. (GENESIS 2:15, NIV) 22 CORNERSTONE Magazine At first glance, it would be easy to look past this verse, assuming it to be trivial and empty as a transition into the next part of the story. But when I delve deeper into the context of this passage, I see substance and relevance. Adam is given time to spend alone with God and to spend carrying out His work. The time that Adam spends being productive as a single man is the same time he spends in God’s presence. Adam’s singleness isn’t exactly singular because he isn’t alone. So, could the manner in which Adam