Today is the Feast of the Guardian Angels, and I have a memory to share. This is a story about being single and God’s timing.
Once upon a time I went to college. I was single then (mostly), and I’m single now, too. Most of the time my attitude then was what it is now, namely, “Meh. No big. When the timing is right the timing is right and, until then, I’m having a pretty good time.”
It’s also mysterious, though, like this here story.
Then there was that one day. Maybe you know what I’m talking about–the one where you’re like, “Holy cow! Everyone is in a relationship except for me! Why?!”
I think that maybe it was Sweetest Day weekend or something, where everyone (except me) was receiving flowers and gifts and running into swing-around hugs in the halls.
I remember that I took a walk to the woods around campus, and stopped by the asters at the lake. I looked out and prayed a prayer that was something like, “Is this ever even going to happen? Will I ever get flowers/ find a boyfriend/ live a married life?”
And, just immediately then, a man turned the corner. Only, there was no corner, really, so I don’t know where he came from.
I must have looked very startled, because he said to me, “I’m sorry! I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to frighten you.”
I smiled, but wanted to get on with my personal prayers, so I just said, “That’s alright. Don’t worry about it. I’m fine.”
But, the strange thing is, he didn’t keep walking, as one would expect as passer-by to continue. Instead he stood with me.
I didn’t know what to do, so I started to engage in small talk.
“So,” I said, “Do you know where the rose garden is?”
I had heard that there was an abandoned rose garden on the grounds, but I wasn’t sure where to find it.
“Why yes,” he responded, “It’s right over there, past the tree…”
But, apparently I couldn’t spot the proper tree, so he said voluntarily, “You know what, I’ll just show you the path.”
And we set out. We walked through the old garden plots until through the trees emerged an abandoned rose garden… pond, rock green house and all. It was a beautiful location, and I was amazed. I decided to keep hiking, though, and said guy asked if he could accompany me. I didn’t see a reason why he couldn’t, so we started hiking together.
Right about now the strangest things started happening, very romantic things. Like, the kinds of things you see in a Bollywood film or a Disney special-level-romantic. For instance:
- I mentioned about the rose garden already. An abandoned rose garden with a pond overlook. That’s a place proposal scenes are made of
- A flock of doves flew up from our path as we were walking
- We crossed a rock-bridge over a placid lake
And right about then, I felt the Father’s voice in my heart all like, “So, do you think I can make things happen or are you still going to doubt?”
And inwardly I laughed, because it was pretty epic. I mean, come on, a FLOCK of DOVES??? That’s borderline ridiculous.
Outwardly, though, I talked Shakespeare (Shakespeare!) with this guy. Shakespeare, camping, and a million other things we had in common.
Then he asked if he could walk me to my class, and I said he could, and we walked together. When we arrived he said good-bye, and I stepped inside the double glass doors. The sun was setting, and the sky was a watercolor of rose and yellow. Not even kidding, ya’ll. When I turned to wave, though, he wasn’t there. He was gone. And the sun was setting.
I don’t know where he went and I never saw him again. But, I do feel like I learned a lesson about God that day, the lesson that I’m always learning: that He is good. That He wants to give His children good things. That His timing is to be trusted.
Okay, that’s three things, but still.
This only ties into the Feast day because one day I told my girlfriend that story and she exclaimed, “Maybe he was your guardian angel!”
And I laughed but nodded.
Maybe he was.