Hi, I'm Jing-Ping Wong. I've always been living the single state of life up until this point. When I look back, I see it as a path upon which God has led and accompanied me - an extraordinary journey. Being single has allowed me to see and experience so much of the world. I am an engineer and for a number of years I worked in the resource sector in Western Australia and in different countries. Recently I took time off work to study theology; that's when I came to Melbourne. I wanted to learn more about the Faith, the Church and Culture in order that I may better live out my faith in the world. Being single has made this possible - at least, much easier than if I had say, the commitments of a family. I am not a professed celibate - someone who has committed themselves to permanent celibacy for God through the Church. I'm a single person still discerning a future vocation. I openly consider which direction God may be leading me to: marriage, priesthood or consecrated celibacy. I do this through prayer and reflection of the circumstances of my life - in my job, study, interests, daily events and in the people I encounter. For me, I would say being single is a time of seeking; a time of prayer.

Not unlike other vocations, the single person is called to fully engage himself in the world. I like to consider the single state as a "season of availability" - to God and to others. I enjoy being able to freely connect with God whenever I like and wherever I can. I go before God frequently and place my life's questions before Him, and patiently await His response. This becomes the deepest joy of living in the single life - to give total abandon to God and to serve His purposes. It is the relationship I form with Him in this way that is so exhilarating. I strive always to be present to God and to all those around me. I think that by willingly accepting my singleness as a gift, as a time of grace, I am truly living out my baptismal consecration in the context of my single life. That way, I am already embracing my deepest vocation as a Christian in the present moment.

One of the big challenges in the single life would be the experience of anxiety that sometimes comes with desiring to find one's vocational calling that has not yet seemed to arrive. It can be hard at times because there is a deep spiritual want inside - a desire to apply yourself - that has not yet found the right home. Often life's circumstances are not within our control: we may be single - and not married or consecrated - not of our own choice. But I have learnt that accepting the unknown and trusting that God is there leading us in uncertainty, is to grow in patience, faith and maturity. And the result of this perhaps, is the best spiritual preparation for the arrival of a future vocation God may call us to.