Dinner with my blunt friend was not the first time that dating has come up in conversation recently.

Scene one: {faculty lounge. lunchtime.}
Somehow dating was brought up by a faculty member and if I was dating came up. I told him no and explained that my rule is that I won’t date until my son is out of high school. His response: “That is ridiculous! We must have a chat about at some point.”

Scene two: {rectory. after school faculty get-together.}
Faculty member from scene one told another faculty member about my rule. They spent several minutes talking about how ridiculous they think my rule is. Faculty member #2 says to me, “You are so dateable!” (Hands down best compliment I have gotten all year.) Similar response from faculty member #2 as faculty member from scene one, “We need to talk more about this.”

Note: Although these are both male faculty members one is happily married and the other is engaged. I know both significant others and adore them both.

Scene three: {friend’s house. 4th birthday party.}
A dear friend says to her husband, “Don’t you know anyone you can set her up with?” His response, “There is a reason that the single guys I know are still single.” Thank you, God, for his honesty.

Scene four: {botanical gardens. play date.}
Same dear friend, “I wish I had someone great to set you up with. Of course, you probably get that all the time.” Well, actually no, but I am just not ready. “I know a great guy in the neighborhood. He has children. Let me know if you are interested.” Actually thrilled that someone thinks I am not only good enough to be set up, but thinks that it happens all the time to me.

Scene five: {charter bus. on a field trip.}
Faculty member #2 has since broken off his engagement although few know this. He knows about my failed marriage, but has only recently found out I broke off an engagement as well in my 20s. (The hits just keep on coming.) We commiserate about how difficult it is, but how we are both better off. He then tells me he is dating someone and how great that is. “I met her on Match,” he tells me. I must say that I am beyond shocked. “Oh, you should totally do it. I am actually dating two girls, but I like one better.” Wow! You go, faculty member #2! Where I am with Match – previous very bad experience with online dating. (That could be an entirely different blog and was back in 2005. Sorry folks, I deleted it.) Not ready to go down the online dating road quite yet.

Then there was dinner with blunt friend.

And, of course, it was the major topic of conversation in my session with my therapist last week as well.

I have a devout faith in God and I believe that He is in communication with us all the time. It is up to us to pay attention. When topics continue to pop up in my life I recognize that it is an area that needs some attention. Is God telling me to date? I don’t think so. Is he telling me this is an area of my life I need to spend some time figuring out? Without a doubt. Still a lot more questions than answers.