TODAYS EXPERIENCE

The 25-40 group went to "Music and the Spoken Word" this morning. Alicia and I went together and got to the tabernacle on Temple square and met up with the group.

We walked in sat down. I ended up sitting next to a guy who I will name "Sunday Guy". He had a presence about him that drew me to him and I wanted to get to know him and figure out his story.

We starting by asking each other questions about where we work, where we are from, and our interests. I think I had only asked him 4 questions when he threw out that he had been married, as casual as "hey how are you today", was I shocked? Maybe for a second...til I could register what he just said. My thought was if he's married then why is he with a bunch of singles this morning? I guess my response to him telling me this was one he was OK with because after finishing what he was saying "Sunday Guy" elaborated on the marriage point and I wasn't so confused. His divorce was final in November and he has 4 boys under the age of eight. I had respect for him for being up front, open and willing to share so much of his life to a stranger that he had just met 10 minutes earlier. He then turned to me and asked me if I had and I said "no I've never married" and he responded with "yet". He was right someday I will! It was nice to feel relaxed and bring no ideas or assumptions to the table while getting to know another human being. No strings attached just learning about each other. "Sunday Guy" had an inner strength that I was impressed with.

After the program was over the group mingled outside. Without the benches to keep us together to talk and being with a group, it made it harder to continue the conversation with "Sunday Guy". We did though converse a bit while in the visitor center for a group picture and mingling. I checked the time and realized that if I didn't leave now I wouldn't be prepared for sharing time at 1:00. I wasn't sure what to say or how to end things and so Alicia and I just left. I'm hoping at some point our paths will cross and it will be nice to continue to get to know "Sunday Guy".

Lesson I learned is that no matter how many bad experiences there will always be a few good ones.

Second lesson I learned is to be open when I feel calmness.

Yeah for Sunday Guy!