Table of Contents

These posts are reverse-dated so that they'll show up in logical order. The newest ones are at the bottom.

Introduction: Plight of the Single Person
Defining Your Struggle
Courting vs. dating vs. general naughtiness
Basic rules of being single
Where to Find Your Special Someone
Internet dating for the Orthodox
Joys and perils of dating PKs
Seminary - His Theological Clock is Ticking
Guide to Romantic Pilgrimages
The Dangers of Travel Lust - A Trip to Old Country
Waiting, Wondering and Whining -- Part I
Waiting -- Part II, Distractions
Match-making and other bad advice
Missionary Dating -- Convert Your Sweetie With a Kiss?
Monasticism -- Competing with St. Anthony the Great for love
Lent + Dating = Grapefruit + Milk
Early Babies and Other Hazards of Passion
Volunteering for Love: Romantification by Good Works
Suppose You Propose
Christian Dumping
E-mail Flirting: A Great Way to Talk to Yourself
Death by PBS special -- Intimacy
Modest ≠ frumpy!
The Day I Bought a Cell Phone NEW POST 7/27/09
Posted by Thomas Eric Ruthford at 4:53 PM
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4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Actually there are more than a few of us "old fogies" that for various reasons, are no longer looking for a relationship, but have an equal difficulty with entering a monastery.

Such people find themselves looking up to the pilgrim in the "way of a pilgrim" or relate to the words of Elder Ambrose of Optina, such as these letters.

The problem with people in this state is that it is very easy to become a "loner", and one does not easily find a social setting that is very accepting or understanding, other than other people in the same situation.

March 27, 2008 11:02 PM
Thomas Eric Ruthford said...

You are very correct about the difficult struggle folks in this state have to bear. However, I'm not qualified to write it...

March 28, 2008 12:31 AM
Donna said...
This post has been removed by the author.
June 24, 2008 7:55 PM
Anonymous said...

So, I'm somewhere in that dating/courtship/friendship continuum (she has used the word "dating" to describe it to others, but it still feels incredibly liminal). I'm ready to not see anyone else, while she has said (written, really - a decent correspondence has gone on) that she is "currently" happy to be alone (well, that was six weeks ago, hence the quotes; and understandably, given her younger age and related situation). Yet she goes on dates whenever asked (almost weekly) and is seen at least as frequently at church-related activities where we work in pretty close contact (and we do not go to the same parish).

No sleep is lost when I see her - when I'm fully "in the moment," it's truly wonderful (for me, anyway). I know I need to stay "in the moment," and learning to deal with the stress of "not knowing" has been a back-handed boon to my prayer life, I think. She's written extensively (and eloquently) about a relationship bringing one another closer to God - I'm not sure she's aware in what way she's already doing that! (So many others, too, to be sure.)

Anyway, I pretty much know what needs doing - lots of prayer and deep breathing, patience, and "abiding all things"; so I'm not so much looking for advice as your prayers, I suppose.

God bless.

November 2, 2009 6:28 AM

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