"Once Upon a Time..." (Part 2)

Little did I know that almost everyone we were acquainted with had been encouraging that fellow to spend some time with me. Friends, family, church leaders.

Conspiracy? Probably.

But after-practice chats about music and books led to rich discussions about Christ, prayer, discipleship, suffering, and worship. One day, out of the blue, he called me up and asked me if I'd like to go to a Christmas parade with him and some friends. Call me old-fashioned; before I gave him an answer, I called my dad for permission. My dad said yes.

That's how December 14, 2009 became known as our first date. Steven picked me up at my grandparents' after work. We met our two dear friends on the side of the street and began waiting for the parade, somewhat nervously, not saying much. We both chuckle to recall that Steven passed my first vital examination when a Coca-Cola truck drove past, adorned with flashing Christmas lights and blaring carols.

"Pepsi or Coke?" I asked.

He responded quite decidedly, "Coke."

I said, "Good."

After the parade, the four of us went to Dairy Queen. We talked as we sat outdoors at an umbrella table and gobbled our ice cream. (You can do that at Christmastime in the South.) As soon as the ice cream had become just a sweet memory, our friends left.

Conspiracy? Definitely.

Steven and I sat at that table and talked for hours. We were discovering that our theology was identical, our passions parallel, our gifts complementary. "I could not have this conversation with anyone else I know," I remarked before the evening was over.

There would be many more conversations like that with Steven.

There still are. :)