Hermitage

It's true, we didn't know each other well when we married. We navigated the same church circles, Bible studies, discipleship groups with the same mentors, and my former husband and I attended worship gatherings occasionally in Bill's home. 

His ministry to men in our community included pastors, lay leaders and troubled husbands who gave him relational opportunities to witness first-hand what married hell looked like. He counseled countless men about marriage when he himself at age 62, had never been married. To his credit, he had no memories of me from those early years since he wasn't searching for a wife nor looking at other's wives.

Many women integrated life with William Word through intercessory prayer groups, home health nursing staffs, and pastor's wives who attended weekly elder meetings. Like Mary and Martha at Jesus' feet, many women respected, admired, and served William as hostesses, chauffeurs, and sisterly advisors. 

Two years passed after my divorce and our only interactions were from this "across the crowded room" perspective, and perhaps, because I lived a self-imposed isolation. I enjoyed my staff and clients, attended churches within a short radius of my apartment, and became quite comfortable eating alone in restaurants. I purposely ignored friends' suggestions for "dating" and desired no future male companionship. My artwork and blogging at Woman at a Well Ministries chronicled my LAST divorce as God began healing my broken heart. 

I examined my life and since I was the common denominator in all my marital failures, I didn't want to cause pain or experience that personal pain ever again. Hermitage seemed my perfect solution. 

Jesus had a different plan.