Our Story (pt. 2): "Guitar Guy"

Continuing from "Our Story (pt. 1): Praying & Waiting"...

While a fifteen year old girl in Illinois was trying to be patient, guarding her heart, the Lord was also sovereignly working in a sixteen year old boy's life in South Dakota. Here is his side of the story...

I was probably a fairly typical high school guy.  I participated in sports (basketball, golf) and music, and maintained decent grades.  I was probably more into playing N64 with my friends than anything else.  Things started to change around my junior year, though, as my friends were more into "partying" and I spent more time by myself playing golf, guitar or video games.  I would sometimes go to the parties, but always felt out of place and depressed while everyone else seemed to be enjoying themselves.  I attended small group at our church, and it was the only place that I really felt a sense of belonging.  Pastor Glen had recently taken the helm there, and I really connected with him.  It was through meeting with him and attending this small group that I really started to know Jesus.

Freshman Year of High School

College was more of the same, but harder since I didn't have my core friends around to hang out with.  In hindsight, I wish that I would have gone to a different school that wasn't as close to home, but I didn't really know that solid, Christian people my age existed at the time.  I spent a majority of my time playing guitar and writing songs, and was known pretty much as "guitar guy" throughout the school.  When you spend 8-12 hours a day doing something like that, I guess it's pretty easy to be pigeonholed.  I was in a band for a couple of years and grew my hair out and all that jazz, all while maintaining decent grades and making the dean's list (though admittedly, I didn't try very hard academically in college).

Sophomore Year in College- 2002

I didn't have a serious relationship until my sophomore year in college.  I dated a girl for 2 and a half years, and we were eventually engaged.  I had always liked girls and everything, but up through this, I was always so shy and wasn't the type to pursue.  I didn't know how to be a provider and didn't know how to be a godly man, much less a godly husband.  We broke up my senior year, and looking back, it was probably the best thing that could have happened.  My spiritual growth had stagnated in college, and it was shortly after we broke up that I applied for Youth Encounter (which I'm sure you'll read about in another post).

College Graduation with Mom

Throughout high school (and some college) I had always prayed "Lord, let [girl] notice me" or "Help me to date [girl], and I'll praise you so much!"  After my engagement ended, my heart was drawn more to Jesus, and I began to pray "Lord, prepare me for who  you have in store.  Give me a heart that goes after you first, and I know that you will provide the best."  I'm glad that He is trustworthy in all of His promises.

Stay tuned for Part 3...