Today, Beth and I celebrate 19 years of marriage. I remember our first date like it was yesterday. Sea World, April 25th 2005. Well, I thought it was a date from the beginning, turns out Beth didn’t go into the excursion with the same mindset… Actually, let me tell you what happened and then I would love your opinion. Will you help us settle a 20 year discussion?
So I was leading a Young Adult Bible study at our church. Beth stayed after to help clean up on the first day… she totally dug me already. The next week everyone stayed after and we played Monopoly. We had too many people there so we needed to team up and as luck would have it Beth and I were on the same team. A few days later the Bible study group went out for lunch after church. While we were there Beth mentioned she was going to Sea World tomorrow and asked if anyone else wanted to go. Around the table, no one was able to make it and the whole time I was crashing out on the inside because I definitely was going to go. When it got to me I said as non-chalantly as I could that I could go. So we went, just me and her.
As I type it out I can see how people would assume that it wasn’t a date yet. But you guys didn’t see the smile on her face or feel the excitement in my heart when we knew that it was going to be just us.
She picked me up to drive me to Sea World (very progressive, I know) and we spent the day that began the rest and best of our lives. One time I stopped to look at the map, just outside where they used to house the Clydesdale horses, she pointed at the map, “let’s see the penguins!” And she ran off, but when she ran off her hand ran down my bent arm to my fingers and with a little squeeze of my fingers she ran ahead to see the penguins.
It was all over after that. I swear it was a cartoon moment for me. I began to float towards her. My eyes turned into the shape of hearts and began pulsing out of my skull…
And I have been floating behind her ever since.
In 19 years we have lived in over a dozen homes. From the sandy beaches of Hawaii to the jungles of Belize and now we have landed back in our home town. I am more convinced now of my love for her than I ever have been.
We have experienced so much life together. Life, loss, love… We are experiencing the abundant life that Jesus said He wants to give us. Sometimes the abundant life isn’t super fun. But man, it’s meaningful.
Beth says I am her soul mate. I say that even though soul mates aren’t real, she is the best possible evidence of their existence.
This is what I know: my life is better because of Beth. It’s not easier because of her. Life is hard no matter who you hitch your wagon to. But there is no one on this planet who makes the hard stuff worth it because I get a life with her.
19 years is a long time. If we are lucky, we will get another 40-50. No matter how much time we get, it won’t be enough. No matter how much we get I know one thing… It’s gonna be an adventure.
