The sheer power of the Home Evening Coordinator (HEC) is coveted for sure. The responsibility is immense as well. It’s akin to the responsibility of the Jewish Yenta. Don’t roll your eyes. It’s true. If your matchmaker hasn’t found you a catch, it’s not your fault, wait for next semester’s HEC.

What isn’t fair is when the HEC coordinates a match made in heaven for him or herself and leaves the rest of the ward hanging. These unworthy chemists take no heed to the needs of their fellow single members. And with “Single Awareness Day” coming up on Feb. 14, the winter semester is an essential time to coordinate the proper chemistry between eager students.

Obviously, someone in the group is going to get married, and of course you’d love for it to be you.  After all, your last 13 roommates married Home Evening siblings, and your turn should be coming up soon.

It’s always a big disappointment when the assigned HE brother or sister isn’t attracted or attractive. Sometimes personality types mix like oil and water.  

Studies have shown that people have different types of pheromones that only react with like pheromone receptors. Only the most inspired HEC can discern these physiological attributes.  Sadly, there are times when pheromones get crossed due to negligence and user error. Don’t sit too closely at Monday night events, or you just might get a whiff of mixed pheromones and make a big mistake.

Thus it is always awkward to meet your new family. Who knows whether it was divinely set up? You look at your new siblings. They look at you. And you think to yourself, “I wonder if we have compatible pheromones.”

There are several ways to tell if your family was divinely chosen. First, if your HEC starts dating his or her HE sibling within the first month, he or she obviously abused his power and probably didn’t fast and pray to find you a great match. If one or more of your roommates is engaged to a HE sibling within the first month, then your group was probably created specifically for them, and you’ll be lonely for the next term — better luck next time.

But every once in a while, when conditions are perfect, the inspired HEC will cross the paths of two members who are perfect for each other; preferably one of them is you. HE is a wonderful program for single university students who, under the premise of spiritual growth, discover their true reason for coming to this wonderful campus.

A little bit of advice for new students who may not have witnessed the powers of the HEC yet: go to Home Evening. Go to it, otherwise, you may never fall in love. Trust me — and my girlfriend.