Do we have soul mates?

Dear Chaplain: My girlfriend and I want to know if you believe people have soulmates? - Signed, Perfect Match Dear Perfect Match: Thank you so much for your question. It’s one that has intrigued people for generations. Some of our Jewish brothers and sisters believe before we were born, we were one with our soulmates, as a single soul in heaven. Then our souls were broken apart and sent to earth with a mission to be reunited with our “other half.” They say this separation was similar to the way the Temple in Jerusalem was shattered, and almost as devastating. However, when two souls reunite on earth, their longing is over and they feel complete again.

Jewish weddings are joyous occasions where couples celebrate this reunion, and understand their initial separation was allowed to deepen their relationship and purpose. A glass is broken under the chuppah and immediately the congratulatory wish of “Mazel Tov” is given. Because even the splitting of souls brings joy...when its purpose is fulfilled. Like when the Temple was lost, and their souls were ripped away from their soulmate, God and the only way they could be whole again was for all of their broken souls to be reunited with Lord, never to be separated again.

Perhaps a perfect picture of soulmates is found in the Song of Solomon. Here we find a beautiful bride and groom created for one another. We see a bride who is not jealous of other women because they want her husband, but rather we see a woman who is proud that her husband’s good character makes others desire him. She thinks highly of her husband and she verbalizes this by praising him with her words, and he thinks highly of her and he praises her with his words as well. She is always on his mind and he’s always on hers. Her husband says of her, “your eyes are like doves...” (Song of Solomon 1:15). And she says of him, “His eyes are like doves...” (Song of Solomon 5:12).

What’s so fascinating about mated doves is this, they have binocular vision, meaning they can only focus on one thing at a time, and it is usually their mate. That’s why they are called, “love birds.” Mated doves are always watching each other and they’re always in sync. What one does, the other does as well. Where he moves, she moves also. She doesn’t turn away from or get distracted when following her beloved wherever he leads, because they only have eyes for each other.

Although the Bible doesn’t give us a clear cut answer on soulmates, as far back as we can see biblically, there have always been arranged marriages. Young ladies went to their earthly fathers for guidance, direction, and sometimes permission, concerning who they should marry. And earthly fathers were their covering or protectors, who naturally had their daughter’s best interest at heart. This to me is an example of how we should go to our Heavenly Father when we desire a mate for our souls. We should let him arrange our marriages because he not only loves and cares for us, but he created us and knows who will suit us perfectly. So, in this sense, I do believe in soulmates. However, I also believe that Jesus is a soulmate as well, a soulmate of the universal church (Ephesians 5:22-33). And our Heavenly Father is our personal soulmate who walks with us, talks with us, teaches us and guides us, as we live this life, if we allow him into our hearts.