As we were driving home from Presbytery tonight it struck me that 10 years ago this afternoon I was heading home from my first Presbytery meeting after ordination and settlement.
It had been a good meeting. In that Presbytery the fall meeting is always the last weekend of September, starting with registration on Thursday night and concluding with worship with the host congregation on Sunday morning (actually the 2001 meeting concluded then but we were encouraged to reassemble 2 hours later for a covenanting service in the next Pastoral Charge). For theme time that weekend we were talking about First NAtion's issues.
But the REAL reason to remember that meeting had little to do with business or theme.
Thursday evening as I was wainting to follow my billet home and after the time for registration had ended a lay member of Presbytery came running in yelling "DOn't Leave! I'm here!". While she waited for her ride to her billet we introduced oursleves and chatted a bit. Apparently she then spent the next two days arranging to be close to me (and finding out what she could about me). But I was a little oblivious. Then at the feast Saturday night we connected. And the rest, as they say, is history.
Still, how many people can say that the first words they ever heard their partner say were "Don't leave! I'm here!"? (Yes I know she wasn't talking to me, but to the registration people whe were getting ready to leave)
Great story!
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