Sundays are uplifting days spent worshiping my Savior, reconnecting with friends, and relaxing in the house of God—that is until the sermon ends, everyone says their last goodbye, and I exit through the doors. The longest walk of my life occurs each week in the journey to my car amid all the families deciding where to eat lunch or which activity will be the focus of their afternoon.
Loneliness swirls around me and inhabits my deepest spots. The enemy knows where to strike, and he shoots his arrow faithfully each week. I smile cordially and wave my hand to be friendly as I enter my vehicle. I sit quietly for a moment. What do I do now? Go home to eat in deafening silence, or muster the willpower to sit in a restaurant full of chirping families. I hate to cook more than I dislike the encounter, so off to a restaurant I go.
Unfortunately, society doesn’t always have a healthy perspective of flying solo. I encounter it quite often when I dine alone. Many times I receive the worst table and inattentive waiters. Or the one that perturbs me the most occurred one such Sunday when I was already feeling a little tender. I entered the restaurant and the hostess asked, “How many?” I replied one. She looked around at a plethora of empty tables and replied, “Do you just want to sit at the bar?” “Uh, no,” I responded. “I would like a booth.” I could have said more but refrained from unleashing my tongue on a high school student earning extra money.
I’m perched at my cozy table, perusing the menu, and still kinda fuming when I realized that we have a place at the most special table of all—God’s table. He has saved us a seat. He has prepared a banquet, and we’ve been invited to sit with the King of Kings. As singles, we’re not left out, separated, or stuck in the corner by the kitchen. We’re given a prime seat.
Being single can be a great place, but being single can be a lonely place. That’s why I love Jesus even more…He lived life as a single. He knows where I’m walking, and He pulls the chair out for me as I dine at His table. Won’t you join us?
“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” Psalm 23:5
About Shelley Pulliam
Howdy! (A girl from Oklahoma has to use this as her greeting) I’m Shelley Pulliam, executive director of Arise Ministries and former teacher of hormone-filled 8th graders. But my real claim to fame rests in my award as second grade spelling bee champ and my recent gun-handling skills as I train to competition shoot. It helps me be on guard when Satan comes knocking. I’m a voracious reader and can frequently be found at the theater enjoying movie marathons where my record stands at six in one day. I’m a single, never married, who loves to pour into children at every opportunity. Let me know if you have any for sale. You can connect with me on social media. https://www.instagram.com/shelleypulliam/