Allison Barron

I spent a lot of my childhood combing the Bible for rules on behavior. It was easier to see the world in black and white than deal with confusing moral questions. I didn’t ponder what the most loving act was in each situation — I just followed the rule …

Here’s what my fiancé and I are doing to streamline our time management and give us enough rest so we can make it through each week.

The idea of being set up on a date used to be objectionable to me. It seemed as if I was lowering my standards because I couldn’t find someone on my own.

Sometimes friends don’t know how to listen well. I’ve seen five types of non-listeners in action, and here’s how they’ve affected my emotions.

The TV show “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” brings up issues of individuality and worth. And I can’t help but wonder why God cares about me when He’s got so many other people to think about. I am just a tiny speck in His universe, after all — one among many. Do I really matter to Him?

If I’m suffering, I want it to have a purpose; if there’s meaning in the pain, won’t that help me through it? Maybe I’m doing something wrong. Or maybe not.

Fear can be disabling. Dating can be scary because it means allowing him to love me — and sometimes that’s the hardest part.

Because I’m a perfectionist, I punish myself when I fail. It would be easier to stubbornly move forward without learning or addressing my shortcomings.