08 / 08 / 08

Driving back home last night after a late work session with Justin, I start praying for Chapel Hill—the people and the town. Praying that Jesus will teach me how to live and love like He would. I decide to skip the shortcut, and drive the long way home, taking me down Franklin Street. Just a moment or two after making that decision, my phone buzzes.

Maybe it’s Sarah checking in. Or Jeremiah. I left him a rambling, "trying to be funny" voicemail earlier.

Instead, it’s my phone's calendar appointment reminder for an event labeled “08/08/08: Where are you? And what are you doing?”

Several months ago, probably somewhere back in early March, Sarah and I had no clue what we were going to do after seminary. We were searching, wrestling, wondering. In the throes of this confusion, I picked out 08/08/08 and wrote myself a note in the future. ‘By then, we will be somewhere, doing something,’ I thought. ‘Wonder what it will be.’

So, last night around midnight, my phone buzzes with a note from the past.

08 / 08 / 08: Where are you? And what are you doing?

The answer: Headed down Franklin Street. Praying for Chapel Hill.