Twitterpated

You've seen Bambi, right? You know what twitterpated means.

Y'all, I had it bad.

Never before in my life have I fallen so easily into a friendship with someone as I did with Isaac. Literally from the first email, we were long lost best friends. We talked about absolutely everything...and I'd catch myself shaking my head as I typed, wondering why in the world I was daring to admit such ridiculous tidbits to someone I'd just met. If first impressions really were everything, I was taking a gigantic risk.

I told him about giving up music for Lent, Jesus Take the Wheel being dubbed my winter theme song, a ridiculously embarrassing typo I'd once sent in an instant message, my over-the-top admiration for David Phelps, my coffee addiction, a significant cooking failure I'd endured that very week, cat yammy, bill paying, and my favorite places to eat.

We talked back and forth about other embarrassing moments, great restaurants of the fast and slow variety, our favorite music (I will tell you we're both southern gospel fans, because that in and of itself is a miracle!), funny conversations we'd had at work that week, what we do in our free time, and not kidding...a host of spiritual conversations, which I adored. I'd never before had someone I could "God-talk" with, and I was thrilled that he not only listened to what I threw out about what I was learning, but he shared, too! That gave me goose bumps.

In one week flat, I turned into a giggly pile of goo. People at work made fun of me because anytime they'd walk past my desk, I just sat there with a stupid grin (think of the size of the smile at the end of "How the Grinch Stole Christmas") as I worked. And let me tell you. NO ONE just sits in Financial Aid and smiles. No one. I squealed with delight every time an email popped up and tried not to count the minutes that passed in between our conversations. I especially loved it when I'd awaken to an email he'd written in the wee hours of the morning. There was something lovely in knowing he was writing to me while I was dreaming of him.

I haven't dated a great number of people in my life, but I can tell you I'd never had that much fun that quickly. Getting to know Isaac wasn't excruciating and awkward like early relationships tend to be. We just talked. It was just right.

And when I wasn't talking to him (or about him to anyone who would sit still for eight minutes to listen to me gush), I was writing to the Lord about my sweet Isaac.

I am a giddy, grinning mess of a fool. He is funny…He is insightful…I like him. Judy says I am falling after two days. I 100% hate to admit she is right. Seriously, Bekah? TWO DAYS?
I don’t see how I’m ever going to sleep. Jesus, I’m so scared of getting hurt or hurting him. I can’t even write down words right now because I’m so…I don’t even know.

This next part...well, it's one of my favorites. One night, we had a particularly wonderful chat. (Oh - yes - we'd moved on to instant message chats. Emails took far too long.) And later, as I opened the journal to write, I wrote the date and just dissolved into tears.

You see, back in 1999, on that very same day - February 25th - another young man had asked me to be his girlfriend. That date had haunted me for eleven years. Not only in February, but every month. It seemed I could have no clue of the date any day of the month, but come the 25th, I was somehow painfully aware of the date and what it meant in my life – and what it no longer meant in my life. To have this hope of a future settle over me on that day was beyond significant. Beyond redemptive.

I was a giddy, giggly, smiley mess today. I think they were all laughing at me at work…We had a great talk. Funny, but we talked about some good God questions too. I really love talking to him. I’m a mess. These are happy tears, Jesus. What a lovely night of chatting. Laughing. Talk of You, sharing…Oh God, I loved it. And it meant more to me just now as I realized the date. This was the day I became a girlfriend. And likely I will never forget that. And yet…this is promise of something new. Whether it’s Isaac or not, it’s the idea that there could be.

Jesus I have to leave this to You. I just do. I can’t fathom it, so it’s Yours. Streams says, “The land of God’s promises is open before us, and it is His will for us to possess it. We must measure off the territory with the feet of obedient faith and faithful obedience, thereby claiming and appropriating it as our own. How many of us have ever taken possession of the promises of God in the name of Christ?” God, show me my land. Prepare the way before me – whether it’s opening or closing doors.

A land of promise. I had no idea how significant that phrase would become.

And I'll leave you with this today - just because it's cute. (And it's proof that I tell God everything).

Welcome to my crazy wonderful life. Just got done talking to Isaac for about four hours again. It’s 2 in the morning and I don’t even care. And guess what? He wants to meet me. Like in person. I got asked out! EEEE! AND I could write for pages and pages more. But it’s 2 a.m.
OH! And he told me he didn’t know when he’d be online tomorrow, but I should know he’s thinking of me. How much do I LOVE that?

This verse was in my Sunday School prayer study, and I’m claiming it for this Isaac situation: Psalm 85:8 – “I will listen to what God, the Lord will say; he promises peace to his people, his saints – but let them not return to folly.” I want to be silent before you and hear Your direction.