There is an ancient Chinese belief which states that when a child is born an invisible red thread connects that child's soul to all those people - present and in the future - who will play a part in that child's life. As each birthday passes, those threads shorten and tighten, bringing closer those people who are fated to be together. There is a beautiful song about this by Lucy Kaplansky entitled "the red thread". I was listening to that in my car yesterday, and I began to weep. I grieved the longings in my life that have not yet been fulfilled. I realized something this summer ,and that is, I don't just want to get married. I want a family. I want my family. This morning, as I was still thinking about this. My thoughts went down a slippery slope. I began to wonder if God is punishing me for some reason, and that is why He is withholding. Now, theologically, I would say a definite "No". But, what I believe and what I experience don't always seem to line up. I don't know where to insert them into my systematic theology and come out with the "right" answer.
