By Rabih Hasbany
“Aqbalak!” Single people in Lebanon probably hear this expression every time they attend a wedding. It means “we hope that you will marry soon.” As a single man, I have heard it so many times, and I’m really tired of it. But rather than getting frustrated I’d like to use my position to share about the gift of singlehood that I am not only embracing but truly enjoying.
There is an assumption that the norm for any person is to get married. In our society, unmarried people are treated like they’re incomplete. The Church can be part of the problem too. It preaches about marriage and the importance of healthy marital relationships but rarely do we hear sermons about the blessings of singleness or how we can invest our years of celibacy in fruitful and effective ministry.