Carrie Bradshaw

I've determined that I am not a trendy person. I never rush out and buy something as soon as everyone else says that it's the latest must-have thing. I don't watch the shows or read the books that all are talking about. Oftentimes, that has the opposite effect on me; I don't want to be like everyone else. I usually wait to see if the trend lasts and by then if it's still around it's not a trend anymore, it's become a classic.

It may sound silly but that's how I feel about Sex and the City. In college it was constantly referenced in all the girly magazines I read. I remember hearing about the big series finale a few years ago and then last year there was all this hype about the movie coming out and flocks of women going to see it on opening night. I never had HBO so a few years ago out of curiosity I checked out a copy of one of the seasons from the library. I think I only watched one episode. I'm a poor teacher and graduate student from Nebraska, a Christian, so how can I possibly relate to four women in New York who wear amazing clothes, have jobs but don't seem to work, and sleep with lots of men?

But last spring I was watching an episode with a friend of mine about these different ways the girls had to rely on faith. None of them are religious but I could still see God through each one's story. Charlotte was going through a divorce yet still wanted to believe that true love was out there for her. Miranda just had a baby and was dealing with the decision whether to have her son baptized. Carrie was doubting her abilities as a godmother. Samantha was trying to trust her boyfriend and allow herself to actually be in a relationship with one person. Even though I may never have been in these specific situations, I saw myself relating to the characters. I struggle all the time with trust in others, myself, and God.

So I saw the movie (months later, of course, I couldn't see it when everyone else did). And then a few months after that I started watching the seasons on DVD. Is the show vulgar and materialistic? Yes, and I have to guard my mind against that and make sure that I don't watch too many episodes in a short amount of time. However, it's amazed me how much I see of myself in Carrie, who overanalyzes EVERYTHING (wish I could be paid for that like she is)and Miranda, who is stubborn and loses hope too quickly.

Last week I was watching an episode and wrote down this quote by Carrie as she was reflecting on her single status: "Why does 1 minus a plus 1 feel like it adds up to 0?" I was reading in "Pure" this morning and the devotional was about lonliness. This line jumped out at me: "When you are walking in intimacy with God, 1 is a whole number." What a reminder of God's truth, that only in Him, am I complete. Whether single or in a relationship, lonliness will be a struggle (my married friends tell me this is true, someday I'll be able to relate?) but God is faithful. I was reminded of the story of Abraham and Isaac, how Abraham waited a 100! years to finally become a father and then God asked him to sacrifice what was most precious, his son, and he was willing to do it. Because of Abraham's faith God provided a ram to be sacrificed instead and Abraham named that place Mount Moriah. A translation of that name that I really liked was, "Jehovah will see to it." And that truth is there for me. God knows my desires, tests me through different circumstances, but will always be generous with His love.

1Thessalonians 5:24 "The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do this."