First Anniversary: Part One

Once upon a time there was a boy named Art, and a girl named Jenene. Jenene was a lady of the Canadian prairies. Art was a man of the American west coast. They were the same age, but led very different lives, so of course, they had never met. They did not know that each other existed.

But that would change one fateful day. Only God Himself could have set it up (and clearly He did, or otherwise I wouldn't be telling this story).

Jenene decided to leave her home in the flat lands and go west, to a bible college near the coast. The mountains, the fresh ocean air, a music program that fit her to a tea, new people who would become her closest friends. It was like a dream. Except it was real.

So she attended that college, and her first year was everything she had hoped for and more. At the end of the year, she decided to join the president of the college and a team of students on a tour. They would perform skits, lead worship, have matching shirts, minister to various churches and have a marvelous time in a too-small, smelly old van, traveling around the North Western states. And so they embarked.

Their first American stop was at a church, in a city in the Harbor of the Oaks. They would stay there two days, and perform for the youth group of that church. Jenene (along with her team) walked into that church, and was promptly introduced to two rambunctious young men, who were apparently the youth interns. They had been very excited to meet this college group, and spend time with them.

And who were these interns exactly? She cared not for one of them, whose name she no longer remembers. The only name and face that stuck in her mind was none other than the aforementioned Art. Jenene was smitten at first sight. He was friendly, and funny, and VERY good looking. She soon found out that he played the drums, which only made him even more attractive.

And what of Art's opinion about Jenene? She was by far the cutest member of the team. And he absolutely adored her acting skills, especially in one sheep skit, where all she had to do was repeat practically everything the other sheep said - with a slight lisp, an over-sized grin, and a somewhat lopsided, jaunty walk. In his mind, this only made her even more attractive.

It was a wonderful two days for both of them, and after the team had left, Jenene heard rumors that this Art might attend their college come fall. All summer long, Jenene wondered about Art, and fancied (with absolutely no seriousness whatsoever) how bizarre it would be if something were to happen between the two of them. And all summer long, Art thought about Jenene, wondered if (and secretly hoped that) she would be at college that upcoming September.

September rolled around, and Jenene arrived for her second (and last) year at this beloved college. It was a delightful time, seeing old friends, and meeting people who would become her new friends. She waltzed through the door of the common lounge on orientation day, and there stood none other than Art!

She was delighted, but remained completely casual (she hoped). She walked up to him, said hi, and asked if he remembered her. He had indeed. Jenene had no idea at the time just how much Art had remembered her. The year began, and they fast became friends. It would seem that something was about to happen between them after all.

Alas, Jenene actually became less happy about the situation. She liked him, she was pretty sure he liked her, and they got along well. But she was not happy with the flirting. It was small college, and nothing goes hidden there. Everyone began to notice this blooming relationship, and they began to ask questions.

In a panic, Jenene finally decided to confront Art about it. He was completely caught off guard. He loved where things were going with them, and he had no desire to change it, or at least, no desire to talk about it in depth. In his mind, the in-depth conversation about their relationship was not to come along soon. These things cannot be rushed.

Poor Art, cornered by this fretful girl he liked so much, admitted that perhaps the flirting had got out of hand. He then felt obligated to come up with somewhat of a definition of their relationship. He did not feel it was time, but he didn't want to lose her either. So they took a new approach.

And suddenly, nothing was quite as good as it had been before. The spark had gone out. Spending time with each other felt forced, strained, and awkward. Perhaps Art had a made a mistake in the way he had formerly conducted himself. Perhaps Jenene had made a mistake in trying to force their relationship to go in a different direction. And perhaps it was never meant to be.

Jenene sought God about this in earnest. She didn't speak to Art for an entire week. And at the end of that week, she knew.

Art and Jenene went for a walk. They had a talk. And it was exactly as God had told her: they broke up. Or rather, whatever tenuous relationship had previously existed, now ceased to be. Jenene was sorely disappointed, but she trusted God, that He knew what was best.

She dove head first into her studies and into all the other aspects of college life, determined to make it a good year. And determined to distract herself in a feeble attempt to get over that wonderful man named Art.

To be continued in Part 2...