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Posted by Jeni Gremm on January 12th, 2008 at 7:44am
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Personalized licence plates can be an excellent way to communicate what the driver thinks. Of course the communication only works if the plate is translatable from licence-speak. On the way to work a couple of days ago I noticed a personalized plate that has been imbedded on my mind ever since that morning. The plate read "SNGL4VR". The driver was a woman, and she has a story about why she feels so strongly about remaining single that she has a licence plate proclaiming that to everyone who drives past her car. That is a very strong statement. I don't know her story, and I'm not attempting to comment on the situations that lead to such a strong life statement. However, the plate's statement did evoke some reactions from me.

My first thought was; "I hope I never start proclaiming that". But in reality, though I don't announce "I'm single forever" nor will I go out and get a personalized plate that reads that statement, I do tend to sabotage my hopes and dreams for a future husband and family with despairing thoughts that go something like this: "Will I ever get married", "Am I still not good enough?", "It's a dating wasteland out there" and on those thoughts go. I am better at catching those thoughts and redirecting them than I was a few years go, however, they still sneak in and pull me down. Could it be that those discouraging thoughts, faithless thoughts even, illuminated a "SNGL4VR" sign over my head?

Then my thoughts left my own single status to those around me. I wondered if anyone who have a plate that read "MSRGHT" or "URHSBND"....I'm sure there are more. How great would it be if there was a sign indicating other people's status. We do have wedding rings to indicate if we're married - that's a great sign. There are engagment rings for when a woman is engaged. In High School, girls used to wear their boyfriends ring in a chain around her neck to indicate that she was "taken". Now at this phase of life there doesn't seem to be many visible signs that you are single and available. What if you are called to a lifetime of celbacy? It can be awkward and maybe even crushing of the feminie spirit if you're interested in a gentleman, develope some level of friendship and he says: "I'm called to a lifetime of celibacy". Maybe those folks should have a "SNGL4VR" sign, so that we don't unintentially flirt with that person. Fliriting with someone called to cleibacy seems like flirting with a married person.

Althought I considered it, I won't get a plate that reads "WNTADTE". The sign I'm still hoping for, still walking in faith for, is the one that means I'm committed to someone for life - my wedding ring.

Posted by Jeni Gremm on November 10th, 2007 at 5:05pm
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