But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Luke 2:19

I have a date with this guy who I have been emailing back and forth for a number of days and we’ve talked on the phone once. His emails are different from my numerous other online relationships. He’s funny, sincere and communicates well. He’s not afraid to show his fears or celebrate his passions. On paper, or I should say, on computer screen, he seems so perfect for me. And so this weekend we meet for the first time in person. I have thought about this man over and over for the last 2 weeks. I have imagined what it will be like when we meet, how we’ll laugh, how he’ll touch my soul. But the truth of the matter is I don’t know this man. I have a glimpse of who he is from his writings and our brief phone chat, but I’ve never looked into his eyes, have never studied his body language; how he reacts to conversations and situations. But yet I have imagined him. What I have really done is projected who I hope he is onto him. I’ve created a character. But I realize that characters are just that – creations. I have set this man up for failure if he is not all those things I imagined him to be. So, I reign in my wandering mind. And instead, when we meet, I hope as Mary did, I will see him for who he is and ponder those things in my heart. I will let him create his own character. And through it all I will have a quiet conversation with my God and say, here is this man, Lord. What am I to think? Here is my heart, Lord, and what it says. What should I make of it all? And I pray, as He did with Mary, God will reveal things to me, and He will calm my heart. And so, whatever the outcome, I will see things as they are and my impression of this man will be based upon truth and not tainted with fanciful projections.