August 19, 2025 The Quiet Start

This summer, Sam watched the show How I Met Your Mother, which inspired today’s blog post.

So… to my kids, who may wonder, “Dad, how did you meet Mom?”

Rewind to 1994. My grad school roommate, Chris, was a youth pastor who held an event at a local YMCA and invited me to tag along. Jessica, who attended his church, stood inside watching whatever the teens were doing. I stepped up beside her and said Hello.

That was it. Just a simple greeting at a “chance” encounter.

But months later, when I became a part of the congregation, we got to know each other better. Another year and a half went by — August 1995 — until we started dating.

By then, she couldn’t resist me.

Sometimes fate doesn’t come with fireworks or an a-ha moment, but slips in quietly, during an ordinary evening at an unexpected place.

That’s why life is such a great adventure.

Now turn up the song and form the letters with your arms: Y-M-C-A.