Meg wasn’t in a situation where she expected a serious relationship to materialize. The 34-year-old from northeastern Pennsylvania was open to the possibility, as evidenced by her participation on CatholicMatch. But she was temporarily living in North Carolina for school and was in a situation where the budget was tight. She didn’t expect big things.
“Strange travel directions are dancing lessons from God,” Meg said, recalling one of her favorite expressions. And it turned out that God’s plan would have her dancing all the way to California.
Adam was 41-years-old and living in the Golden State. It turns out that both he and Meg decided to attend last year’s National Catholic Singles Conference, held in Philadelphia this past September. Meg was volunteering at the NCSC, and it was at this conference that Adam set up his own profile. Although they didn't connect at the conference, Meg reached out to him on CatholicMatch and the romance began.
“Through emails and Skype we began learning more of each other’s story,” Meg said. They read books together and shared CDs of their favorite Catholic talks. They got together on Google Hangouts for one online “date” to listen to webinar hosted by CatholicMatch’s own Lisa Duffy.
“Before we knew it, three month had gone by of multi-hour Skype calls each night and surprises sent to one another via mail,” Meg recalled. In the early part of this year, Adam got on a plane and came to North Carolina for a visit.
Another in-person meeting convinced Meg even more that Adam was someone special. “From being a complete gentleman, to being up for adventure, to hanging out with my family, I knew Adam was one special guy and I was blessed,” she said. Meg further likes the fact that Adam has what she terms “calming and soothing influence on me,” helping her to stay grounded.
Two months later, Meg returned the favor and flew west to visit Adam and his family. “Two weeks in California while North Carolina battled another wintry ice storm went by entirely too fast,” Meg recalled.
Adam and Meg are still discerning where God is ultimately leading them. Meg admitted the need for patience is challenging, but they have something in their immediate future to look forward to—a trip to Colorado in May to meet again.
A long-distance relationship on a shoestring budget wasn’t what Meg had planned for herself, but neither she nor Adam are complaining. “I know God’s plans are so much bigger than I can even try to dream up for my life,” she said. “I’m so incredibly grateful for what I’ve been given."
Meg is wrapping up school and on her way to Ohio to begin the next chapter of her life, with Adam a part of it, as they look forward to sharing more of the opportunities presented to them.
One of those opportunities they’ve been given is to return to the National Catholic Singles Conference together. The 2014 event will be held in San Diego from August 8-10, just an hour’s drive from Adam’s hometown.
They’ll be there. CatholicMatch will be there. We hope to see you there too.
Continue Reading
