“All right guys, gather round. Let’s start tonight with an icebreaker.”
The chatter in the room died down as the college students congregated in a semi-circle.
“I’m glad to see lots of new faces this year,” Maria said. “As the Bible study leader, my job is to make sure you all get to know one another.”
“Is this the part where we all have to tell some random fact about ourselves?” one girl asked.
“Not exactly,” Maria said. “You take a card, and you have to find the other person in the room that has the card with the matching question. When you do, pair up, and tell the other person the answer to the question.”
Hailey pulled a card from the stack in Maria’s hand and read it to herself. “Who is the most interesting person you know, and why?” Well, that was an easy question. Now all she had to do was find someone else with the same question. After chatting with a few other folks in the room, she asked another young woman her question.
“Who’s the most interesting person you know?” Hailey asked.
The girl with the shiny dark hair grinned. “That’s my question too. I’m Megan, and the most interesting person I know is my grandmother.”
Hailey smiled. “Well, I’m Hailey, and the most interesting person I know is my grandfather.”
Megan’s eyebrows rose. “Really? You’re not just saying that because I said my grandmother?”
“Absolutely not. My grandfather used to be a professional surfer and now he’s a whitewater rafting guide. He’s been an extra in 6 movies, and has a pet Burmese python,” Hailey said, a touch of pride in her voice.
“Well, my grandmother speaks five languages, has a black belt in karate, and is a scuba instructor,” Megan said.
“You’re kidding,” Hailey said. “That’s amazing.”
“She’s fantastic. We always have the best adventures when we’re together,” Megan said.
“What’s your grandfather like?” Hailey asked.
Megan’s smile faded a bit. “My grandfather passed about 10 years ago. That hasn’t stopped my grandmother, though. She’s every bit as adventurous as she was when he was around.”
“My grandfather’s all alone, too,” Hailey said. “My grandmother’s only been gone about 5 years. Grandpa didn’t adopt the python until after she was gone. She wouldn’t have tolerated a snake in the house.”
“That’s funny,” Megan said. “My grandmother had a pet snake when she was a girl. I don’t think anything ever scared her since she had five brothers.”
“Alright, everyone, come on back together,” Maria called.
“Let’s meet up afterwards,” Megan said.
Hailey grinned. “Definitely.”
A few weeks later, as Megan and Hailey were walking back to the dorms after Bible study, the conversation returned to their grandparents.
“Are you going to the music fest this weekend?” Megan asked.
“I wouldn’t miss it,” Hailey said. “My grandfather is taking me.”
“No kidding?” Megan said. “He’s into country music?”
“He is. My parents hate it, but my grandfather turned me on to it.”
“So did my grandmother,” Megan said. “I’ll see if she wants to come with me. We could all go together.”
Hailey’s eyes gleamed.
“What are you thinking?” Megan asked.
“I bet our grandparents would love spending time with each other.”
“You think?” Megan said. “That would be amazing. Let’s do it.”
The following weekend, the girls arranged for their grandparents to meet them at campus.
“Thanks so much for taking me to the festival, Grandpa,” Hailey said. “Would you mind if my friends join us?” She motioned to Megan and her grandmother chatting nearby.
Grandpa Joe’s eyes brightened as he gazed on Grandma Ruth. “Any friends of yours are friends of mine.”
At his words, Ruth turned, and a hint of pink rose in her cheeks. Introductions were made and the foursome walked to the parking lot to Joe’s car.
“Grandma, you can sit in the front,” Megan said. “Hailey and I will sit in the back seat and chat.” She threw Hailey a wink.
The ride to the music festival flew by. Joe and Ruth chatted like old school chums. By the time they reached the festival, Joe was leading Ruth onto the grounds with her hand in the crook of his elbow. By the end of the show, they were dancing in the aisles.
****
Megan’s eyes widened when she saw the card. She tore open the envelope as she exited the campus post office. After a few steps, she halted in her tracks, reading the message a second time, then immediately made a beeline to Hailey’s dorm, calling her on the way.
“Hailey, did you check your mail yet today?”
“No, why?”
“I’m on my way over there. I have to show you something.”
A few minutes later, Hailey buzzed Megan into her dorm, and Megan took the stairs two at a time. Breathless, she shoved the card in Hailey’s face when she opened the door.
“Your presence is requested at the top of BearFence Mountain on May 22nd at 6:30 PM. You won’t regret it. Joe and Ruth”
“What is this all about?” Hailey asked.
“I’m not sure. Hold on, there’s more in the envelope.” Megan pulled out a typewritten note. “There are a bunch of instructions. Wear hiking boots. Carry at least one liter of water. Bring a camera.”
“Where is BearFence Mountain?” Hailey asked.
“It’s in Shenandoah National Park – only about an hour from here,” Megan said. “We have to go. Finals will be over by then.”
“Of course we’re going,” Hailey said. “I can’t wait to see what adventure they’ve cooked up this time.”
Over the course of the next two weeks, the girls finished their finals, purchased hiking boots, and soon found themselves, along with their siblings and parents, scrambling over rocks to reach the summit of BearFence mountain, just in time to see the sunset explode in a beautiful panorama of color all around them. There, standing at the top of the summit were Grandpa Joe and Grandma Ruth, decked out in their hiking gear, along with a man the girls didn’t recognize.
The man turned to Joe and Ruth. “Is this everyone?”
Ruth nodded, a gleam in her eyes.
The man raised his voice. “May I have your attention, please?”
The murmurs among the family stopped.
“Dear family of Joe and Ruth. We are gathered here together to celebrate the marriage of these two individuals…”
The pastor’s next words were lost as family members gasped in surprise. All around the summit, the small band of hikers beamed with pleasure, but none as much as Megan and Hailey.
Megan turned to Hailey and whispered in her ear. “Definitely the most interesting people we know.”
Psalm 92:14
The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, “The Lord is upright; He is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in Him.”
God, life doesn’t always need to be full of adventures, but please help us make the most of what you’ve given us, whether it be exploring the beauty of the world around us or simply enjoying the presence of those whom You’ve placed in our lives. I thank You for the blessing of grandparents. Thank You for those of us who have been blessed by a relationship with our grandparents, for those of us who are blessed to see the relationship of our children with their grandparents, and for those of us who have the blessing of being grandparents. Please bless those relationships, Lord. As we all grow older, please help us to remember that no matter our ages, we can still bear fruit for You. It doesn’t need to be with a surprise wedding at the top of the mountain, but please help us bear fruit and shine a light where ever we go. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Who is the most interesting person you know? I’d love to hear about them in the comments below!
Recent Comments