William and I actually met many years ago, thanks to being members of the same church. We’d see each other from time to time, nothing unusual… until one rainy Saturday morning in March 2024.

Now, William was determined that day—he got up, got dressed, and drove to the church for a Deacon’s meeting. Only problem? He was a whole week early. (We’ll call that “forward thinking.”)

But wait, there’s more. On the way there, as if God Himself wanted to slow him down, William managed to get not one, but two flat tires. Two. At the same time. I’m convinced angels were up there giggling like, “Watch this, y’all.”

So, William arrives at church, tires flat, ego deflated, and meeting-less. Since he had nowhere to go, he wandered into the Singles/Married Couples Day Conference. (Which is hilarious, because technically, he was too single for the “married” part, and apparently too early for the “Deacon” part.)

Lucky for me, I was one of the panel speakers that day, representing the single folks. William stayed, listened, and-boom-I caught his attention. (Personally, I think it was my dazzling wit, but we’ll let him tell it his way.)

Two weeks later, he found me in the back of the church when most people had gone home. Now, let me tell you - William tried really hard to ask me out. But instead of just saying it, he started explaining about his Deacon’s meeting, the time of the meeting, and honestly, I stood there wondering if he was about to ask me to speak at the meeting.

Finally, confused, I said, “William, you’re going to have to be more direct with me, because I don’t understand what you’re saying.” That’s when he blurted it out: “I would like to take you to dinner.”

And for once in my life—mouthy me—I was speechless. (Yes, it does happen. Rare, but true.) I told him I’d let him know if I was available. William just smiled and said, “I have your number. I’ll call you.”

And the rest? Well, we like to think that the heavy rain, the two flat tires, and the wrong meeting day were all God’s way of arranging a divine setup. After all, without all that, this story—and this love—might never have started.