Reason # 5 - Um, I might be scary?

A couple of years ago I was getting a lift back to a campsite that a group of us were staying at, when one of the guys in the car was talking about his first impressions of meeting me. He said he'd thought I was scary, that he had (initially) felt intimated - partly by my personality and partly being knowing what I do for a 'job'. He said something along the lines of not being sure how to approach me (even in just a friendship context) and that it took a while to get over his preconceived notions. I was SHOCKED! Me? Intimidating? Considering I know myself, and I know my weaknesses and insecurities it was hard to see how this apparently confident, secure and self assured individual could have felt that way. But he isn't alone is he? We all have different notions about what a person might be like before we actually dig a little deeper and get to know them.

So I've saved the trickiest reason for why I am currently single for the last of these series of posts. It's one that, although I have theories about (naturally), I don't really have any answers or conclusions to give. This one is out of my hands so, if they're bold enough, I'll leave it to the boys to respond to...

Here goes, reason # 5 for singleness: because I'm in full time (paid) ministry.

I was 'warned' while at college that it would be harder. I was told that Christian women in ministry are almost 3 times more likely to stay single than their male counterparts. That guys find it much harder to ask out a female in paid ministry for any number of reasons. Two of the biggest being a feeling of intimidation or an uncertainty about whether they can lead a woman who leads others.

It sucks. I don't like it but I think I knew what I was getting in for when I started so I'm not really complaining, just stating what I see as a contributing factor.

I get it - but I don't. Feel free to enlighten me guys...


PS - here ends this series of posts; next week, preaching conference and the Word.