9/29/03 - The comment that became a post.

In the 9/26/03 com box I received a long comment from Maria in Mass. Since I also received another email asking about Ave Maria Singles and previously someone else asked me about Lord of the Rings, I decided to post my answer in the blog instead of the comment box to make things easier.

You are getting me interested in "Lord Of The Rings". I never read any of the books or saw the movies. Do these books and movies have some kind of Catholic influence?

JR Tolkien, the author of the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, was a Catholic. The story may not be "Catholic" in name but it contains many beautiful "Catholic" lessons. I find it incredibly uplifting, although it is rather dark at times. My worldview sees Catholics as fighting a battle for God. (Hence the name "revolution of love.") So the battle of good vs evil in LOTR is more than just a story to me; it is something I can apply to my own life. There are also more subtle images that will evoke thoughts of Catholic elements such as the Sacraments.

I would highly recommend you reading the books! If you are the type that likes to read first before watching the movie, do that. (I saw the LOTR and TT first then read the trilogy before I see ROTK.) If you are not that motivated to actually read the book you should at least watch the first movie Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Rings. It is so beautiful. (If you rent it, get the extended version with extra footage.) More than likely you will get so into it you'll want to read and see the rest! Do watch it and let me know what you think!

I do not have anyone my age around here who are Catholic....and my church does NOT have a singles group...yet...I am working on encouraging our Pastor on forming one though.

The last time we approached our pastor about starting a Young Adults group in our church, he agreed if we were the ones to put it together. It is easy to tell the pastor, "You should do this..." but it is another thing to say, "I would like to do this for you...". Perhaps you should offer to start and run the group? (But only after prayer and discernment that it is what God wants.) If you do this and the pastor still says no, then you'll have to brainstorm something else! But, yes, I do wish we were all closer to each other! I long to be able to see you (and the others around here) face to face instead of email to email!

Can you believe nobody has written me yet from Ave Maria Singles? I just updated my profile again...I need to just trust God on this and keep praying...please keep me in your prayers!!

As far as AMS goes, hang in there! I know how hard it is! Although I am married now I still keenly remember how hard it was to wait and be patient for my future husband! Personally, I would not wait for a guy to write you. (I didn't and look where it got me! haha!) Don't forget there are hundreds of other girls on there and it is quite normal for girls who "won't write first" to not receive any messages. (And some are very pretty, intelligent and faithful!) It's just the nature of the situation. There are so many people on there! Look through the guys profiles. See who has common interests and a strong faith. Don't worry so much about his pic. (Some guys take terrible photos and others that are "not so handsome" become extremely attractive to you once you get to know them. In the end you will fall in love with his "soul", not his face!

With that said, however, don't feel bad if you write a guy and he says he is not interested. Don't take it personally! And when you do begin corresponding just take it slow and really get to know the person. Don't get emotionally involved until you discern that it's what God desires. (That will save a lot of heart ache when friendships do not develop into something more!) In the end, whether online or in person, you'll find him! In the meantime, continue to develop your relationship with God, keep busy serving Him, and pray for your future husband, particularly entrusting your future marriage and children to Our Lady.

Okay I think I've stood on this soapbox long enough! I hope that helps. And do know that you (and all those looking for a holy spouse) are in my prayers. Don't worry. I'm the poster child for "Yes, it can happen to you!" In the end it will be worth the wait! Trust me!

Love and prayers to you, my friend.
Bobbi