The summer before I took my trip to Israel, the summer of 1999, I was involved in a community college bible study. I was part of an initial team who had started the group, and I was part of the leadership involved with planning activities, outreaches, and welcoming new people.

The group officially met on Sunday evenings for actual bible study, but a lot of us had grown extremely close and hung out together several nights a week. Many from the group had become my circle of friends while remaining in my hometown, and attending community college, after High School.

It was summertime and the Sunday night crowd was always different, with regulars out of town for vacation and mission trips, and others who attended college out of state popping in because they were back home for the summer. Feeling some ownership in the group, when new faces appeared I tried to greet them, make them feel welcomed, and help get them plugged in by sitting with them or introducing them to others.

I was bopping around socializing with everyone before worship started when I saw him walk in.

I was paralyzed.

I was like stone, except for the butterflies in my stomach and the fire rising up my face. My mind just kept repeating, It’s him. It’s him. It’s… “the boy next door.”

I had had a crush on him from a distance since I had been eleven years old. I’d never spoken to him, never introduced myself, never had a reason too… until now.

This was my chance.

After all, it was kind of like my job to welcome people… so why not him? It wouldn’t seem out of place. It would make complete sense for me to finally walk up to him and say,

Hi, I’m Rachael. I’ve seen you around town my whole life and I’ve never spoken to you and I’m so glad you’re here and I think you are soooooo HOT, and… and… here he comes…. Oh Rachael get is straight… you can’t say all that… be cool, just be cool… umm… um…

“Hi Boy Next Door.” (I didn’t actually say “boy next door” I said his actual name.)

Oh my gosh. Did I really just say that? Did I really just say his name out loud? Now he’s going to wonder how I knew his name. Oh I blew it, I blew it. Now he knows I’ve been staring at him, stalking him since my childhood.  He can see into my soul, he knows everything, I’m…

“Hi Rachael.”

Whoa.

I froze.

The butterflies froze, and I swear they dropped their jaws and just stared at him.

He just said my name.

I didn’t tell him my name.

To be continued…