I would like to introduce you to Braden Aaron Brown and Abigail Elizabeth Wadley.
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Braden + Abby |
Two extraordinary people. The type of people that would wince at my suggesting that word....(which already says loads about them)......The type of people that thrive in absolute zero attention space. The type of people that somehow manage to distance themselves from the accolades that seem to shower around them consistently. What is most uncommon is that they both never let themselves truly "inhale" the compliments.......Rather, they say thank you.....smile--because they are smart enough to know that you, the giver, needs to feel good for giving the compliment, and then they "snap back to grid" to that place where superlatives do not exist. In essence, they are quietly gracious.......Uncommon? I would say yes.
They have known each other since they were in grade school. They became friends in 7th grade. Braden, painfully shy, someone who would do almost anything to keep any attention or notice directed his way, showed up in a way that caught this young girl's attention. His gift was that he knew who he was at a very young age. He found his footing early and has never veered since. He was a young man that had decided early in life, that he was going to "go about and do good" (Acts 10:38) in every interaction, in every relationship, in every thought and deed. It is no small thing to remember who this scripture referred to and the profound parallels it has to Braden. While we witnessed Braden's behavior and interactions with our own eyes, we didn't have the advantage of seeing Abby growing up but, we have had strong inklings she followed a similar code of life by the way Braden felt drawn to her. I wouldn't be surprised a bit if her parents saw similar motivations and patterns in their home.....
Uncommon? I would have to say yes.
Most young people struggle to navigate the awkwardness of early "teenageship", Braden seamlessly glided through those messy crags and crevices with an amazing amount of ease and solidity. I am sure he might describe it differently, but it was clear to us that somehow his roots went deeper, and when the wind blew, he was steadfast.....never allowing the tempestuous winds of junior high temptations that blew his way to alter his focus, or his path. It didn't matter what the world threw at him to try and knock him off his feet, it never worked.....I am sure it was frustrating to those that tried. What was especially cool was that no one really wanted to.... He managed to be totally integrated with academics, sports, music, friends and yet was able to fly adeptly under the mainstream radar exquisitely with the sophistication of a trained fighter pilot. An unusual talent for high schooler..... Uncommon? I would say yes.
And there is this Abby person.... Wow! You would love her! You would probably only need about 5 minutes to find out too. A smile that would melt an iceberg, a differentiated disposition honed her entire life to be loving, kind, and generous.... the kind of generosity that flows freely. When she pays attention, she really does.....no fake smiles or laughs. She is so smart, intellectual, precise in her calculations--whatever they may be (lots of spreadsheets!!) and perfectly balanced with her constant beautiful smile and wonderful sense of humor. She has super high emotional intelligence -- she is able to adeptly walk into a situation, observe the room, the situation, the people, and react just right. Mostly it works because she wears a countenance that puts you at ease........ immediately.
Uncommon....To me, yes.
You see Abby, equally extraordinary, was observing from afar.... she wasn't looking for the typical Junior High School boys most girls would.... it wasn't the sports, the clothes, the neighborhood or the car (The car was cool however..!) .....No, she had a different gaze.... it was deeper and went under the surface of stuff. It took more time, more consideration, more precision, but she saw something that was not obvious to almost everyone else. She saw Braden's heart early on. She watched him act quietly. He didn't say much, but his actions, how he interacted with others, and how he carried himself was loud and clear. She zero'd in on a different target.......and set things in motion that forever change both their trajectories....... and Braden didn't seem to complain too much!
It happened quietly, without commotion, and very little noise......This thing....this uncommon love. How two 7th graders could be so stealthy--so wise, so young? I don't know.....Did they see this coming way back then? The idea that maybe there was this very tiny seed of an idea... that germinated into a possibility of something more is irresistible.....and very cool. I would like to believe that maybe these little post it notes of possibilities would come to them, maybe while eating lunch on the sidewalk at school each day, or thinking of each other during class......that this precious thing they were growing, could eventually lead to something as incredible as the eternal union they will be forming today.
I love the way they found each other, grew together and found love. While this may not sound that different than other love stories, The way they did it was uniquely theirs....special, intimate, powerful and uncommon.
What they will do next will be no less impressive. They have framed a perfect and precise blueprint of how they want to live their lives. I think about the vise grips pliers I have in my toolbox. The kind that once locked on--don't come off......That is what these two have done. They have locked their "vise grips" tight around how they want to live leaving no question in anyone's mind about what will result.....They will go about doing good for the rest of their lives.
Talk about an intentional life!
So, with the help of a little tune we like to sing at home, we send you off into your heart shaped sea.
"All I needed was the love you gave
All I needed for another day
And all I ever knew
Only you...."
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