Concerning soul mates (and Hobbits, to a degree)

Contained herein are my brief thoughts concerning the idea of soul mates: I realize that most people will likely not share my views, but that is perfectly all right. This particular blog post is for an audience of one, and she knows who she is. Everyone else can just scratch their heads and wonder whom this fantastic individual is LQL (laughs quite loudly).

For most of my teenage and adult years, I’ve considered and thoroughly renounced the idea of soul mates, as the majority of people have come to think of them, an idea rooted solely in relationships of the romantic variety. I respectfully disagree with this point of view, as it limits a term that can embody so much more if romance is removed from the equation, so to speak. I fully believe that it is just as possible to find a soul mate in a friendship as in a romance: this type of soul mate connection would have to be in a deep, long-lasting bond of friendship, with a loyalty towards the other friend that will live on until the bitter end.

I have not always thought this possible, of course; I went through a temporary phase of cynicism and sarcastic jest that seemed to sour my perspective on the world, while all of my friends found a significant other. As a person, I may not appear to be much, at first glance, an odd amalgamate of utter geekiness, social awkwardness, and intense introverted behaviors. When considering these qualities, one may surmise that someone of this unique composition would not ever have a soul mate to match up with; God knows I’ve had similar thoughts pop into my head. Then I met her on Pinterest, and God blew my mind into very small bits. Numerous times.

The unlikely possibility that someone existed who is almost more me than I am myself seemed like the most impossible thing ever, in my mind. And yet, within five minutes of chatting with her online, we had determined that we were both left-handed, introverts, sci-fi nerds, Whovians (or fans of the British TV show Doctor Who), fans of the same genres of literature (including Tolkien’s ‘Lord of The Rings’ trilogy), and a number of other shared characteristics. We had also begun finishing each other’s sentences, as a subtle feeling took hold that we had known each other for many years, possibly even as long-lost siblings. In so many ways, she and I could be classified as “soul mates”, but we both believed that we were better classified as “fated-friends”. The definition that we developed for the latter term is ‘two persons who are destined to meet, against all odds, and form a deep life-long bond of friendship, rooted in God’s Love, loyalty, and putting the needs of the other first.’ As we continue this unexpected journey, a Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee of the modern age, I can’t even put into words how thankful I am that God brought this fated-friendship of epic proportions into being!! Here’s to you, Mr. Frodo!!