Advent Series Ping!
Hello, Salvation,
I really appreciate your post. As a 52 year-old woman who is, for all intents and purposes, single (even though married; just very lonely), and a new Catholic, I thank you for this.
What a lovely painting. Have a blessed Christmas.
I couldn’t relate to this woman’s story very much as it seemed more depressing then living life...though I do have reflection times it’s rare about being single if at all.
Her frame is similar to my own but I can certainly relate to her posture after too long hanging out on the computer! And trust me there are no leaves drifting across it! LOLlolol.
I would guess though that there are those who do suffer the pains of lonliness....still.....I have also know married people ‘who suffer worse’ being alone in dysfunctional marriages...they have no escape without ending the marriage itself. Where if you are single you can always leave your home and do something interesting.
Interesting read I have to say....thanks fo posting it.
I pulled up a larger image to look more closely - there’s more (along the lines of the theme):
- notice the coat-of-arms, with what appears to be a knight’s helm. It’s proximity to her head suggests she, at times maybe, “thinks” about having a man in her life, but notice too where she’s looking. Away, “but”, so is the knight! They’re both looking at the spiritual representation.
- also, there is a suggestive, I think subliminal reference to sex, where the line in the glass (”from” the knight) descends to intersect with the line (of her belt or sash?), hidden, not prurient, but most definitely pointing to her “womanhood”.
Nice painting, but (sorry to buzzkill, it’s just the truth, or “part” of the picture) - the painter married his colleague’s wife, who had her marriage annulled to said colleague on the grounds of non-consummation.
They went on to have 8 kids.
I can’t say exactly, yet there does seem to be some lingering doubt about the artist’s experience of ‘waiting’ or ‘patience’ in his lifestory...
Instead of hating singleness, should we not embrace the path God has set our feet upon? I mean, I’ve studied in the Bible the reasons for pain; refined by a fire...other examples, but the one purpose I am told - that sticks out to me, is to work PATIENCE in my life...
There you go - “Waiting is hard.”
Sorry for the length - no more coffee, ha! - I feel some of the other posters’ comments, I think
- it’s better to be alone and single, than to be married and lonely. So sad for you there.
- this has helped me, it is lovely; called “How To Be Alone”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7X7sZzSXYs
I have had to learn hard lessons. Unlearn false things. The “you complete me”-thing...yeah, Ironman...Hollyweird...Disney
How about: “I complete me” (with Jesus, doing my imperfect best)? I like to think that I can bring my however imperfect “best” into a relationship for building-up, for sharing,
NOT dependence (the need of some “other” for completion).
...just some coffee-fueled 2cents ;)