The Ex-Factor

Here's my most recent lesson learned...although to explain it I have to go back a ways...

In February, while I was on my trip (I believe I was in DC) I got a call from a friend (lets call him Tom). We had re-connected at a few events and it seemed like there might be some flirting happening. He called to affirm the suspicion and ask if I'd be interested on going on a date when I returned home.

It took me another month or so to get home from the East Coast but we texted and called intermittently through out that time, and within a few weeks of me bein back we set up a dinner date.
I walked into his house a little anxious, but mostly excited...I hadn't had any pursue me quite the way he did. We grabbed take-out and brought it to his house. As I took my first bite he said, "well there's kinda somethin I wanna talk to you about."

I had no idea what that might be but I remember thinking 'its a little too soon for an engagement,' lol.
but nope, I couldn't have been further off. He went on to explain that in the month that I was driving back, he had started to be interested in another girl. He was respectful about it; aware that he asked me out first and wanted to keep his word so he hadn't asked her out. He kept explaining where he was at but I wasn't really paying attention, all I could think was, "am I really being dumped on a first date? Is that even possible?!?"

I warned him that I was feeling like I might need to cry it out, which I proceeded to do, haha. He was totally great about it. I explained that I wasn't mad at him (life happens). I was simply exhausted. tired of getting my hopes up...tired of hoping.
but I wished him the best (and meant it) and left.

WELL here's what has turned out to be the hilarious part of the whole thing. The girl he was getting to know was I girl I knew. She however was only more of an acquaintance, I only saw her here and there or in passing. But within days of our little talk I found out she was on my brothers young life team and she was spending a lot of time with he and my sister-in-law. Which is fine but every time I went to an event to try and support my brother she was there. And then, as fate would have it, a couple weeks after that Tom ended up moving in with all my best guy friends, a house I'm at almost more than my own. So now not only do I see Tom regularly, but his girlfriend is over all the time with him. I seriously NEVER saw these two much before all this went down, and then after things went a little sideways now it seems like I can't escape em!

This seems to include church.
I went 2 weekends ago and wasn't surprised that I ended up sitting right next to them.
At first I was mad, "really God? I can't even have church to myself?"
but then as I stood and worshiped next to these two people, who I wasn't determined to hate, but who I just didn't really want anything to do with, I realized how different Gods plans are than mine. It wasn't even that cliche line that "gods plans are bigger or better" although I'm sure that's true. This moment simply illustrated to me how different Gods plans are. 

I continue to learn why I'm me and why Gods God. He is not concerned with drama or titles or keeping score, who dated who, who's been going to church longer. He doesn't care who I'm standing next to when I worship, he cares that I worship. Silly me to think that would matter, when I think about it now I just feel dumb! But it's been a great reminder.
"come on kate-what are the important things? the kingdom things? the heart things?"
seek those first.