How We Met
Adapted from "Beauty and the Bud"
The date was June 12th, 2005 and Bud had been having a bit of a time lately. You see, he met someone online on eHarmony and they had gone through the process and had talked online via email and instant messenger. However, the Lord had ‘checked’ Bud and afterwards he and this girl prayed about it. He decided that the Lord was leading to not have a relationship. It was not an easy decision because he didn’t want to hurt anyone – he just wanted to follow the Lord.
Anyway, June 12th happened to be the day for the annual church picnic. When arriving that day, Bud had the thought “I’m going to meet someone today” but quickly pushed that away. “I’ve thought that before” he said to himself “and it has just caused me frustration.” But then he thought “I wonder if this might be different. I’m sorry, Lord. If it is your will, so be it. I just don’t want it to ruin my day.”
At the picnic after church service, Bud ate and walked around a while talking to friends. Thinking that “I haven’t met anyone” helped him to want to just go ahead and leave. But, Bud decided to say goodbye to Desira (a friend of his on the Youth Staff) first. When he found Desira, she was talking to someone that Bud did not recognize. He thought to himself about this young woman – “I’ve never seen her. I wonder who she is…she is cute and looks like she might be in her mid-twenties. Oh well, she is probably married.” So, Bud goes up to say goodbye to Desira and is introduced to this young woman, Kathy. He found out that Kathy had been friends with Desira longer than himself. Desira had to leave quickly and Bud was also ready to leave, so the introduction was pretty much “hi” and “bye”.
At this point, the story would have already been over, but the Lord intervened. Two weeks later, on June 26th, Bud was in for an ‘awakening.’ Bud had a little Sunday morning routine back then. It was pretty much like this: get up and get ready for church, drive to McB’s Exxon and get a breakfast sandwich and a beverage, debate on a donut, and go to church. But that morning ended up being a life changing experience for him.
Of course he woke up and started getting ready for church. But, something was different that morning. Bud was already ahead of schedule (having gotten up early) but felt the need to get moving…to get to church. So he hurriedly got ready and started the morning drive. The need to get to church kept growing and was really pressing on him – so he started to pray. Bud felt that it was the Lord leading – especially since he had had similar feelings to NOT go somewhere before. But this was intense.
On the drive, Bud debated on breakfast and breakfast eventually won out. But there was no debating or taking his time that morning. Zoom – into the Exxon to grab a breakfast sandwich and drink. Grabbing a donut, he rounded the corner and then zoom – out to the car. He ate quickly while on the interstate and was praying nearly the whole time. Something was certainly up…and he had to get to church ASAP. At one point, the feeling subsided somewhat, and then got stronger than ever.
Arriving at Trinity, he walked very quickly across the parking lot to enter the church. That feeling was very, very strong and he was still praying and wondering what was going on. Just before reaching the door, he thought “I’m GOING to meet someone today.” And when he entered the outer door of the church, there she stood. And she was none other than Kathy – who he met two weeks earlier. But, immediately when Bud saw her, that strong feeling of urgency that was pressing on him vanished along with the rest of the thoughts in his head. And then it happened…being a greeter that morning, she turned and stuck out her hand and said, enthusiastically, “Hi Bud!” And the only thought to cross his mind was “Oh my God…she knows who I am.”
