An Invitation

I believe that everyone who has a heart carries the belief that, that special someone, who is just right for us is waiting. The problem comes in determining how to find that person before you or they do something that could mess up your destiny. We always ask... How do you know this is "the one"?

Well, all of the above is the source of our story. John and I both belong to a very (I emphasize VERY) large church. While at a weekly Bible study class (750 of our closest friends) we met. I was busy putting scripture references onto large overhead screens for the members to follow and he was working audio. Things get really silly in the control room and our meeting was a lot of fun, however, I was not looking for a relationship, I was really doing my best at that point in my life to focus on what I believed God put me here to do. He as well, was not interested in a new relationship. The next few weeks were lighthearted and fun, but I really didn't want to get distracted by this guy and actually prayed that he would be taken out of my space!!! How blown away was I when the following week he announced that he would be leaving to go to a six month training course for his job in another state. (God does hear prayer!)

So he left, we didn't exchange numbers or even last names. I was happy. I could keep my focus and with a congregation in excess of 7000 members I didn't even miss him. I actually forgot all about him. I spent my time learning and understanding what and who God is to me and really began to develop my relationship with Him on another level. I can clearly remember being told that I would meet my husband before the new millenium, but I had all but given up on that with time winding down as it it was.

In late October, a single thought of John popped in my head. It was like it was actually spoken into my thoughts. I heard it as clear as day say to me "Get ready, he's coming back". By this time I couldn't even remember John's name but I knew this feeling was about him. All I knew was that something big was about to happen and it involved him. I ran around (discreetly) trying to find out any information I could (Like his NAME!) and I ran into dead ends at every turn. All I had was a vague description from my memory. So I left it alone. Two days later someone walked up to me and told me that "John" would be back in town in 2 weeks. I was blown away again. I had butterflies in my stomach and this wonderful feeling of expectation but I didn't know why!

As it turns out John came home a week early. Two days after his arrival I got a phone call telling me he would be back in Bible study THAT NIGHT! (Ok, now remember 750 people on a slow night! and I don't have a chance to even run home and change!) So I got nervous, there's no way he's going to remember me, I only vaguely remember what he even looks like. What do you say to someone like that?

By the time class started I was a mess, freaking out and to top it off I couldn't find him. I gave up. Maybe I had all my signals crossed. At the end of class as I am packing up my things I turn around and there he is! He gave me this big hug and just sat down next to me. I opened my mouth to say Hi! but instead "I need to talk to you" fell out. We exchanged numbers and he called me that night. We were on the phone all night. We had a lot in common. It turns out that during his time away he really spent his free time time dealing with God and that he had returned with a lot of answers to a lot of issues in his life. He believed that his time was coming and that God was going to answer his prayers.

Our conversation confirmed so many things inside of me. And I KNEW this was the man I would marry. But I couldn't tell him that and have him run away screaming. Two weeks later he "propositioned" me in the local Lenscrafters, I couldn't believe marriage could be on his mind so soon. He was merely testing the waters to see how I felt about marrying in 2001. Again, I opened my mouth to say something clever or coy and instead I said "No, 2001 will never do we'll be married in 2000".

Four weeks later he was working a project for his job, designing an invitation to a function he was heading up. He asked me to look at the prototypes. I read them and chose one I liked. He asked me to read them all, reluctantly I did and the last one was an invitation to spend the rest of my life with him, and he presented me with the diamond ring I now proudly exhibit on my left ring finger. We wasted no time in setting our May 5, 2000 wedding date. And will be married in the wonderful sanctuary where we first met.

So how do you know? My suggestion is Just Listen. God speaks, he really does.

Vicky