Full Circle

BEFORE

For all of Anton’s musical talents, he’s never once serenaded me. I recall the instances that I’d ask him to sing for me and he’d tell me that it just wasn't the right time. So as the years passed I had come to believe that the day he would finally serenade me would be the day he would propose…

When we first started dating Anton used to say (whether jokingly or not) that all I needed to do was finish school and then we’d get married. Yet in a classic case of divine irony, three years later and in my last undergraduate semester, Anton decided to leave his job as an engineer and pursue Catholic lay missionary work in Calgary. This seemed to put everything on hold, but instead, it put everything in perspective. The year and a half of long distance ended up being one of the most valuable stages in our relationship – it was the time in which I graduated from university, started my career, and began to embrace my life and calling to be a disciple of Christ as a young professional. It was simultaneously the time when Anton travelled across the country and the world doing missionary work, building relationships and communities, and developing further as a man of God. In every way, it was a time of necessary preparation for our call to marriage. It was simply a lesson in detachment from one another in exchange for further attachment to the will of God. And what an amazing will it is turning out to be!

DURING

Two days after Anton abruptly moved home for good was the day that he proposed – Thursday, October 1, 2015, feast of St. Thérèse of Lisieux. I didn't see it coming as the evening was filled with very simple joys: mass, dinner where we celebrate special occasions (no suspicions here as his homecoming counted as such), and adoration at my home parish, St. Patrick's in Vancouver. I remember feeling joy, peace, and gratitude for being able to spend quality time together, but moreover, to be reunited for good after a year and a half of long distance. It was in adoration after some personal time in prayer, that Anton asked if we could pray together (still no suspicions). Mid-prayer he began to share the story behind why he moved back as suddenly as he did, the significance of October 1st, and his conviction to marry me. I listened intently yet still without a hint of what was to come.. although I did begin to wonder why he kept repeating "proposal" and "October 1st". Today is October 1st. Is he going to propose?! Sure enough, the next thing I knew he said, “it was never a question of whether it was you, it was just a matter of when the right time would be." Then he went down on one knee (what is happening?!), took out the ring (is this real life?!), and asked me to marry him (YES!!!). I couldn't breathe. 

AFTER

Before we left to share the great news with our families, we took some time to pray separately – another moment from that evening that I will cherish forever. As I gazed at the Eucharist I was overwhelmed to tears by God’s faithfulness to me, to Anton, and to the both of us on this incredible journey. I recalled all the times I would come to that very chapel, in that very row, gazing at the same Jesus, over the course of our relationship – in times of consolation and desolation, joy and sorrow. And now here I was. Here we were. Betrothed! It was as if Christ was looking at me with eyes full of love, saying, “I have been with you faithfully through every stage of your life and every stage of your relationship with Anton, and I will be with you in all that is to come. There is still so much more that I have prepared!” It was like a beautiful song being sung to me by God – a song about His fidelity and perfect timing, a song about His love through our love. 

I suppose even if Anton didn't sing to me at the proposal, the serenade I had always imagined happened after all…