The Single Life Although the majority of people will marry, remaining single can be a very positive choice. Many people are living the single life. Some have made a definite decision to remain single, whilst others are wary of commitment to another. Many marriages have broken down, and there are many widows and widowers. Some haven't yet found a person to marry or settle down with and yet others have not been able to marry the person they would have hoped to. There are those who don't feel particularly called to the single state but this is where they find themselves and this is where they must live and act. A real discernment about a call to the single life or marriage must come out of a deepened relationship with God. Being single in its own way carries the opportunity to challenge the view, especially in our day and age, that finding a life partner, or indeed a succession of temporary ones is the only way to fulfilment.

We live in a confused age and whilst on one hand many are afraid to 'lose their freedom' by getting married, on the other hand many are sure that real happiness is only to be found in being with someone else. Single life then is not an incomplete life, but a life with its own rewards, challenges and mission. Chiefly among these is the need to share our lives with others and to develop deep and lasting friendships. Friendship isn't a vague benevolence towards someone but is at the heart of all caring relationships that will last and flourish. Jesus called us friends and taught that there is no greater love than to lay down our lives for our friends. A beautiful quotation from the Hebrew scriptures reads: 'Friendship is the elixir of life.'

You could look at www.ukvocation.org and www.vocationsgroup.org.uk which include material and information for those who are single.

You could also look at the website of the Brentwood Catholic Youth Service (www.bcys.net) and Youth 2000 (www.youth2000.org) for events for those in their teens and twenties and for opportunities to serve others.