The Story of Us, Part I

I can’t remember the first time I saw her, but suddenly, she was there. I didn’t know her—not really—and what I did know made her more of a symbol than anything. It was the summer I graduated from university, and the events of the previous year had me disillusioned with the opposite sex. Maridyth and I only crossed paths a few times that summer, but the wholesome beauty that I saw in her made me realize that maybe someday I would find someone ‘like that’. If I had known… but I’m glad I didn’t.

Nine years. Nine. I was accepted into grad school. I was not accepted into the scholarship program. I waited a year to reapply, and knew by then that it wasn’t what God had for me. I put my history degree to work, becoming an engineer at an internet bank during the ‘dot com’ boom. I emerged from the spiritual doldrums and helped start a house church. I found new passions. The internet boom went bust. I emerged from the dust with severance pay in hand and a career interrupted. It was perfect. I was expected to find a new job, but I left my suburban life and moved to Europe to learn and see. I wandered. Writing and photography assignments took me to various corners of the developing world… India, Ethiopia, Kenya, beyond. I landed in Austria, and through my writing began to explore what radical faithfulness looks like in a European context.

I never did meet someone ‘like that’. I wanted a partner for the journey. Was the desire from God, or rooted in my own selfishness? I prayed. I had gotten as close to the edge of the world of mission as I could without falling off. I had read Paul. I knew that there were some things that could be better done without a family. Could this be the life I was called to? Should I commit myself to singleness? I should be sure. I wasn’t. The desire was still there. Should I just marry someone I could get along with? I had options. No. But to wait… I had been waiting. I prayed. I would wait. I would wait until I met someone that I knew would be the other half of a team that would make a greater contribution to the Kingdom of God than we both could apart. I would wait.

George Mueller said that he only received clear guidance from God when he reached a point where he had no personal will in the issue at hand. I had reached that point. Either option was thrilling to me. The idea of finding a partner like the one God had placed on my heart was exciting. The prospect of placing my life on the line for the Kingdom was exhilarating.

So I waited.

Read Part II >