Probably the Best Place to Find Your True Love

Thought this is a good post to share on Valentines Day. Colleague and fellow FilAm and The Point blogger Angelise Anderson shares her thoughts on a best place to find your true love.

Young people today, of whom I am one, seem to have this focused goal of finding "the one." It makes sense, since most of our parents and grandparents were already married by our age. But I believe that sometimes the obsession can sidetrack us from really fully living. Funny too, because in that place of fully living, one is not only fulfilled, but also will meet those with common passions.

Fox 5 anchor Laura Evans met her husband, Mike Manatos, at the 2002 Make-a-Wish Foundation triathlon. A year later, they were married. Evans told the Washington Times that she recommends doing charity work as a means to romance because "you can meet like-minded people, have meaningful conversations, and it's not over a beer."

Too many singles, especially here in the city, spend their weekends clubbing, many hoping to meet someone. Dating coach Jess McCann says that's half the problem with meeting people at bars: "You don't know what to say." How do you strike up a conversation with a complete stranger, and how -- even more difficult -- do you luck-out on introducing yourself to someone who actually has the same calling and passions?

It's time for young people of this generation to step out of the traditional dating box and find their purpose in a world that desperately needs their helping hands.

John and Staci Eldredge, in the bestselling book Captivating, write, "There is much life saving that needs to be done yet, and someone needs to do it. We must live this out, no matter where we are." One should not be sitting around waiting, but working toward a goal, pouring one's life out for the purpose of helping the world in some form or fashion. As Frederick Buechner's wise words remind us, "The place that God calls us is that place where the world's deep hunger and our deep desire meet."

A word to the wise on getting involved: Pick a way to get involved that you are actually passionate about. Cathy Alter, author of Up for Renewal: What Magazines Taught Me About Love, Sex, and Starting Over, reminds her readers, "If you are doing things that are charitable...you will attract people into your life with the same values. The most important thing is to do things you like to do. Don't do things because you think you will attract a man."
So if you are, or you know someone who is, looking for love -- and I know most of us know somebody -- please encourage them to start living their lives out for a cause, and wait to see God open doors to friendships and relationships that will not only change their lives, but the communities around them.