32 years, five months, and a few short days ago, I went to play tennis with my roommate Dave. Little did I know that Dave had arranged for us to meet up with two Cal Poly coeds named Gretta and Tracey. Now they were both really nice and really cute...but I was sort of in this relationship still...well...it is very complicated. But it was nice to meet some nice girls and play some tennis where I actually looked good...in fact I was a tennis god (compared to them).
The one girl was quiet and smart with beautiful long blond hair. I have to admit...I was attracted right away to her. The other girl was loud...VERY LOUD!!!! And perky...VERY PERKY. But she was cute too...brown hair...long...her name was Tracey. I had never met a Tracey before...especially a girl one. These two were roommates as well...just for the summer. I don't think Gretta could have handled the Perky One for much longer than that. But we played "tennis" and I think we got some ice cream. Dave and I went home and he asked me, "what did you think of the girls?" Well of course I told him the truth...Gretta...really cool. Tracey...ANNOYING!!!!!! Dave thought the same.
I know, what does this have to do with luck...or walking for that matter. Well actually, quite a bit. At that moment in my life, I was still in love with my old flame...I had actually been engaged to her. The prospect of meeting a girl like Gretta made me think that maybe I shouldn't try to hang on any more to the past...you know break out...move on. Some times we hang on to what is familiar and we fail to see what lies ahead. I was in a vulnerable spot in my life. I was lonely, and insecure, and really unsure where my life was going. I needed direction...and a sign...what and where do you want me to go next Lord?
And then...I got a phone call...not from who I had expected...it was the loud one...Tracey. "Hey I was wondering if I could borrow a backpack?" she says. So the next thing I know, she's knocking on my door. "Come on in" I said...and she did. She has never left.
I was really lucky that day...lucky in that God in His wisdom took a situation that could have been really bad...and made something really good out of it. I mean who knew why that LOUD girl wanted to be with me. Was she lonely? Was she hurt and broken? I was. I was lost and broken and confused about a lot of things. It was in that very fragile state, that God would bring two people together. It was as if God said to us "for just this special time and place I grant you two the chance of a lifetime...DON'T BLOW IT!!! And we haven't.
It has been a long walk...32 years...I love that LOUD girl way more today than I ever could have then. She has been a faithful friend and companion. She is a wonderful mother and grandmother. She has been a great partner in ministry and in life. She is the love of my life.
I am sure my old flame is still a great person. I'm sure Gretta has had a wonderful life. But God said to me, "hey Bill...you take the LOUD PERKY ONE."
I'm so glad I did...I am a lucky blessed man.
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