But God...thirty years ago...

Thirty years.  Really?  Thirty years ago?  Yes…January 5, 1983.  I remember it vividly. 

I had graduated from KCC/U in May of 1982 with a double major and a minor.  I had a ministry-type job lined up.  I would begin working on my master’s degree as soon as possible.  Life was going to be good.  But God…had other plans.

The ministry job didn’t work out, shockingly. So I moved back home.  I now lived close to several colleges and would work part-time somewhere while pursuing my master’s degree.  Then I found out that because my alma mater was not yet finished in their SACS accreditation, Virginia would not accept my degree.  What?  Now what would I do?  But God…had other plans.

A few phone calls and letters were exchanged between KCC/U and me.  Another major?  A new department? Elementary education?  A job was waiting for me…President’s office related?  How would I pay for all of this?  Where would I live?  More undergraduate work?  Seriously?  I love my school but another two years?  How? Why? What? But God…had other plans.

My sweet Dad teased me as I moved into the dorm.  He tried to make me laugh as I faced yet another grueling goal.  He jokingly told me I would probably be looking for a guy!  (Definitely joking!)  I quickly responded that I was not interested.  And I meant it.

January 5, 1983.  Thirty years ago today.  I had just finished working in the office and walked down the hallway to check my mail.  It was great to see old friends and meet new ones.  But my focus was on getting the work done…the new degree finished…and get on with my life.  But God…had other plans.

A friend saw me and called me over to chat.  He introduced me to a new transfer student.  Tim Lorenz was the new guy’s name.  (He is nice, God…but remember…I am not allowing myself to do anything but work lots, study much and move on. I mean it! I don’t have time for anything else in my life.)  Tim and I shared courteous hellos, small chat about where we were from, and how we had wound up at KCC/U now.  Nice guy.  That’s all.  A new friend.   But God…had other plans.

That was thirty years ago.  Obviously, God’s plan was very different from mine.  He knew what was best.  He transformed my heart.  And at just the right time, a University of Akron student transferred to KCC just when I returned for yet another major.  God must have chuckled that day.  He had orchestrated our lives to meet on that campus…for more reasons than we ever imagined.

Thirty years ago, I met a precious, God-loving, young man who would later become my husband and the father of our children.  Thank You, God, for having other plans for my life.  Thank You for bringing my now husband of twenty-eight years to that campus and for bringing me back home to KCC/U so that we could build our lives together…according to Your amazing plan. ♥~thl