A Beginning Before Our Beginning

During my freshman year of college, in the fall semester, I had an hour between classes on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; I would sit outside on a bench and watch people and read. For some reason this memory has always stuck with me...

I'm sitting on my concrete bench, as usual, and it's a very cold day, but I prefer sit out in the cold, alone, because I don't do well with trying to make small talk to the strangers inside. I believe I had my pocket Bible with me that day and was reading. I watch the people hurry to and from their classes--enjoying that last inhale of a cigarette, before heading inside, fumbling to find their keys and rushing off to their cars.
For some strange reason this one soul catches my eye. He is bundled up tightly, in his strange tan coat that comes down to right below his knees and the winter hat that sits upon his head. I feel sorry for him, because he looks kinda dorky and out of place, just like I feel I am. I watch him walk up the steps and he keeps his face down--is it to protect it from the cold or is he afraid he's going to fall, if he doesn't focus on the ground. Geez, he looks so ridiculous and weird with the way he keeps staring down in front of him.

To be continued...

If only I knew then the plans God had for me and the boy in the strange tan coat, I don't know if I would have believed them and just think there are more plans to come that I don't even know yet!