Chapter 7: My Two New Friends

But wait a minute. I had started dating someone, then all of a sudden I was studying Jesus. Would this new relationship in my life be tied to what I ultimately decided I thought of Christianity after studying it thoroughly? I loved sitting around, talking about the bible. But would I choose its path for my life? And would I choose this guy for my life?

I quickly decided I didn’t want the two to be intertwined. I needed to see out the Jesus thing first, not choose it because it accompanied someone I liked.

I asked my new biking friend if we could pause where we were. By this time, I had met his parents and we were in the habit of going to their house for dinner on Saturday nights. I loved that. I’m a family kind of girl.

We decided that yes, we would pause, but we’d at least keep biking together and he’d continue to pick me up on Saturdays for dinner with his parents. In other words, as the weeks and months rolled by, we got to know and respect each other more, “just” as friends.

How our society downplays friendship and elevates dating and physical intimacy! If it only knew.

As I funneled my free time into eating up the bible, I resonated with all of the things it said. My bible friend and I became more like family. And I knew I had found what I was always looking for. It was far from kooky. It was dead-serious real. And bound by love.

As we began to wrap up our study over the months through the booklet, I was amazed at the amount of time my bible friend had devoted to me. She was the mother of five children and a grandmother of perhaps a dozen, yet she quieted her house every single Saturday just to spend time with me. Wow.

I began to think about where my biker friend and I were going. My legs were definitely much improved, and I learned so much about him on all of our plutonic rides. He had all of the really important qualities I wanted in a lifetime companion. He was honest, wholesome, hard-working, reliable, responsible, kind, loved the outdoors, and passionate about active living. I had also put washboard abdominals on my list, and his did not disappoint. Oh, the things we think are important.

One night after dinner with his parents, we drove back to his place where my car was parked.

“You know, I know everything I need to know about you to know that I don’t need to know more. I know what I think we should do. What do you think?” I said.

His answer was hurtfully blasé. He seemed completely indecisive. Oh my gosh. Not another one who likes to date but can’t commit.

I started crying. Gushing, really. Was this world full of guys who cared nothing about wasting a girl’s time? Would I keep on experiencing this same thing, like a broken record? Do I have to wear a T-shirt that says, “Don’t mind me unless you’re marriage material”?

“Wait, wait,” he said, interrupting the sobs and the derailed thought process he must have imagined happening in my head, his voice now full of compassion.

“Do you know what I’ve been doing for the past few weeks?” He paused and my brain searched for hopeful possibilities.

“I didn’t want to tell you, but I’ve been looking for a ring.”

Ohhhhh.

My cries turned to joy! Commitment, companionship, and love were finally on my horizon. He wanted to buy the cow!

to be continued…

Copyright © 2020 Edee Kulper, excerpt from a book in progress