Hugh said:

It was M-day minus 24hrs; I was alone in my flat, reading a self help book – “Shift Happens” by Robert Holden and the section was called “God does not believe in atheists”. I quote:-

"Take ten minutes now to review a challenge in your life. Call to mind all your feelings, thoughts and fears. Now ask God, your highest Self, for some light. Imagine a light shining in your mind (a light with no “off” switch!). Relax, be wide open, and welcome a new idea, a fresh perception, a great thought, some humour, a more helpful perspective and a better way."

The challenge that I reviewed was that I was tired of being alone.

Marcia and I met at Living Well, Sutton Coldfield the next day. It was May Day bank holiday, Monday 3rd May 2004. I was warming up on a spinning bike ahead of the 10 am class when this lady, whom I later found out, was Marcia, came in and sat on the bike next to me. We did introduce ourselves briefly before the class, but conversation got harder, even for Marcia, when you are riding a fixed bike at 30mph, with music blaring and an instructor shouting at you through a microphone.

At the end of the class, we parted company but kept bumping into each other in the gym throughout the rest of the morning. As I was leaving I asked Marcia if she would like a coffee downstairs once she had changed. She agreed.

We sat in the coffee area and talked and shared for about 2 hours, about a wide range of things, some highly personal for a first meeting. Perhaps we thought that we would never meet again, but I don’t think so....

At the end of the two hours Marcia prayed for me, gave me her business card for us to keep in touch.

As I was doing stuff all afternoon I couldn’t get her off my mind. So before I went out that evening I decided to text her. I said that “I would help her with her fitness goals, if she would help me with my spiritual goals”. Not that I had any idea what they were!! A few minutes later she text me back, “Deal, I am excited for you and your future”.

Ever since that day, I have become excited for me, for Marcia, for us and for our future together.