“So how did you meet your wife?” I asked the 94-year old gentleman sitting beside me on the bus. “It’s a very long story, you know,” he said with a wide grin.

“We have four more hours until our destination, and I think we have time,” I responded. Little did I know that I was about to hear a life story akin to a movie plot.

“I was in my 30’s, and I had a dream to own a boat to sail around the world. Unfortunately, at that time, I could not afford one. My brother knew of that dream and introduced me to his friend, who owned a big ship company that surveyed land areas in Africa. He employed me and trained me to become an engineer. We would go to outlying areas and discover new land, meeting people and learning about their culture.”

“Not long after, I quit that job. I saw the potentials of the porter business – transferring loads from the docks to the village and vice versa. I bought a truck of my own and partnered with other people who had trucks. The roads were rough, and the business did not thrive that well.”

“Then, I heard of the ongoing rebellion in the African region where my parents lived, I went back home and enlisted myself in the army. I worked with intelligence; knowing the language of the people made it easier to find and capture the enemy at that time.”

“During those moments, I felt lonely. I prayed to God and trusted that he would give me someone I can share my life with.”

“Social dances were popular during our days. Due to the political unrest, it was necessary to have a military escort to be able to go to the dance. One night, a lady friend asked me to accompany her and a group of friends. It was at that time I saw her friend, Susan”

He said that he did not think of it that much seeing Susan for the first time. Although, he could not deny his attraction towards her charisma and her beauty. Until her lady friend asked him a couple of days after,

“Would you want to come to the dance and be Susan’s date? It would be perfect since you would already be our military escort.”

He danced with Susan song after song, and he knew that she was different. He was mesmerized by her and loved every minute of that night.

She asked him, “Do you want to come over and meet my parents tomorrow?”

I couldn’t hold myself to interrupt his story. “She asked you to meet her parents? That was bold.”

“Yes, indeed,” he responded while laughing at my puzzled facial expression. “I met her parents, who owned a tea farm. They migrated to Africa from Scotland.”

“It became a long-distance relationship for nearly a year. I became fascinated with growing coffee and needed to learn the trade far away from home.”

“I was earnestly seeking from the Lord about my relationship with Susan as I could not think of living my life without her. So, I went home and requested to see her parents. She cried and thought that I was going to end our relationship. She did not know that I was going to ask permission from her parents to marry her.”

“It was funny because her father asked if I had funds. I didn’t have a lot of money, but he still gave his blessing for us to get married. Four children after and another story of migrating to Australia.”

“Love came. I did have a girlfriend in my 20’s, but she did not want to get married. I waited, and the Lord brought me, Susan. We have to trust the Lord as he sees the desires of your heart.”

“If we can trust God with our career, our personal growth and, our families, why can we not rely on him with our heart?”

“I thank God for more than 40 years of companionship with my wife. She died 18 years ago. Whenever I tell my story, some people don’t believe it. It happened, God was in it.”

Going home that afternoon, I was reminded of this :

Psalm 139:1-5
1 O Lord, you have examined my heart
and know everything about me.
2 You know when I sit down or stand up.
You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.
3 You see me when I travel
and when I rest at home.
You know everything I do.
4 You know what I am going to say
even before I say it, Lord.
5 You go before me and follow me.
You place your hand of blessing on my head.

Let God be the center of your relationship, your waiting or, your searching. God bless!