Shane and Zahra’s journey began in a moment of serendipity - one that changed their lives forever. On March 31st, 2023, during a yoga class, Shane met Zahra, the woman who would become the love of his life. Zahra walked into the room a few minutes late and laid her mat in front of the window, catching Shane’s eye every time he looked up. He was captivated by her strength, beauty, and grace. When they faced the back of the room, Shane’s impressive yogi skills and handsome physique caught Zahra’s attention, though she had no intention on meeting someone knew due to her only focus at that time - fire school.
As the class ended, Shane promised himself he wouldn’t leave without introducing himself. He walked outside to wait for her to leave. Zahra, as she usually did, stayed after to talk to the instructor. Outside, Shane began to think, “Is it weird how long I’ve been sitting here?” when she suddenly came walking in his direction.
They both looked at each other and began to smile and exchange names. Zahra will never forget Shane’s first pick-up line, “do you play sports?” They had a brief conversation until Zahra said she had to run to her next class. Shane couldn't shake the feeling that he had found someone truly special. Determined to see her again, he returned to the yoga class the following week, only to find that Zahra wasn't there.
Fortunately, Shane was able to connect with an old teammate who knew Zahra from college, and he arranged for them to meet. From their first real conversation, Shane's feelings were validated. Zahra was not only caring and loving but also deeply spiritual, with a strong faith in God.
For Shane, who had wrestled with his own beliefs and faced adversity alone for so long, Zahra's faith was initially a question mark, as he told her he was not a Christian and didn’t plan to be. Zahra, optimistic and intrigued by Shane’s personality and persistence, never tried to convince him otherwise but only shined her own light through God. One day Shane asked Zahra a question she had been praying about for weeks: “so when do you think is a good time to introduce me to Jesus?” She then invited Shane to church with her and on that same day, his heart and spirit were opened forever. He believes God was waiting for him right through those doors.
As they spent more time together, not much changed. They love spending time together being active, motivating each other, and traveling. Together, they want to help others, build a family, and become a testimony to the power of love and faith, a true reflection of God's grace.