“So how did you two meet,“ she asked?
“Well, we actually met 10 years ago, “I responded. Her eyes widened. She already knew…there was a story. She also already knew I would be happy to tell her. I’d be happy to tell her because I’m a sucker for a good story. I love to hear them, read them, write them, share them.
“We met at a conference, in Cleveland,“ I began. Insert her confused, “of all the places, Cleveland?” face.
I nodded. I mean seriously, Cleveland? Nonetheless my Philadelphia self and his DC self met at a conference in Cleveland, Ohio. However, it was poor timing. I just started dating a guy back in Philadelphia. While Mr. Philadelphia and I weren’t exclusive, I had a thing for practicality like nobody’s business. In my mind, while they were two very handsome, intelligent, easy to talk to, educated, interesting men, why would I purposely choose to complicate things by dating Mr. DC? I wouldn’t and so I didn’t.
We stayed in touch over the years, mostly through social media, an occasional email or text. When I landed a project for work this past spring, I knew it was going to necessitate some extra perspective and insight from someone who’d done similar work more recently and longer than I. I also knew just who the best person was for such insights would be- Mr. DC. Mr DC who was now Mr. NYC. Unlike my knowing, I had to switch to hoping. I had to hope that we were friendly enough that he’d be my best person and make the time to connect. He did!
A few messages, two weeks, hour and a half- ish train ride up to New York later, plus an additional 12 minutes of me getting lost on my way to meet him for lunch, there we were sitting across from each other a little over 10 years after the first time we met. He was full of insightful information for my project…and all that I remembered him to be from the first time we met. Maybe just a tiny bit handsomer.
Not long after I was on my train back to Philadelphia eating a delicious piece of cake from Magnolia’s Bakery he texted to thank me for lunch, mentioned it was good to see me, and then inquired if I was seeing anyone. I shared the appreciation and enjoyment was mutual and I was seeing Jesus. He didn’t laugh, but I did. When I told him I wasn’t currently seeing anyone… well let’s just say it only took about 10 years for the two of us to finally find our fit together. 😊
But, here’s what I really wanted to share. During those 10 years, he shared that he never stopped hoping that he and I would date. He dated but here and there but it was me that he was really hoping to get to know and be with. I told him 10 years was a long time, to which he admitted he definitely knew. I guess he did know how long that was because he was the one wishing and hoping. I on the other hand was working, starting one business then another, blogging, traveling, finishing another degree, moving across the country and back, dating this guy and that guy and being mildly impressed by a very few, heart cracked by one. I was holding out hope for somebody, but I wasn’t like him. My somebody didn’t have a name, a face, a personality, an email, social media, a smile, etc. His hope did. His hope was specific, it was personal.
Grace will hold out specifically for us. The moment it encounters us, whether we readily choose it or not, it chooses us and will wait while we do any number of things that we think we can or need to do with out it (which honestly is not much compared to what we can do with it). It won’t get distracted or weary, it will gently let us know it is there, and it will respectfully ask for entry into our lives. It’s respectful like that. It desires us and is acutely aware of the ways in which it can add to our lives and help us live out our purpose.
Often, we have some concept of grace, just like I had some concept of the person I wanted to date and be in relationship with. However, usually our concept of grace is a smidge skewed. Typically, we think we have to earn it (we don’t) or that it will run out (it won’t) or that there are loop holes as to who really qualifies to receive it and who doesn’t (there isn’t). Grace is for everybody, and even in its vastness, it specifically knows and wants us individually, personally, intimately, and eternally.
I have no idea how me and the man’s story will end. Sure, I have some hopes, I actually have a whole list of hopes. I even share these hopes with Jesus. But I don’t really know how our story will unfold or end. Grace however knows how our stories with it end. Well. ALWAYS well. When we choose grace, to accept it, receive it, extend it to others and ourselves, our stories always end well. Grace knows this and that’s why it patiently waits for us, staying aware of who we are day in and day out, month in and month out, year in and year out, not settling for anyone else but us.
With Love,
Grit + Grace