Praying for Midlife Partners: Incredible Mid-Air Answer

Brad never plans to utter such a prayer.

Then his 30-year, 6-child marriage ends. After the painful divorce, life stops as he looks back. Brad grieves a mix of sadness, disillusionment and pain.

At times, anger covers it all.

As an analytical person, he tries to learn from the marriage and it’s ending. He reads about personality issues and grows in self-awareness. Yet, his heart is stuck in unexplainable tears of grief.

For a while.

Then life goes on.

As he heals, Brad turns with hopeful reluctance toward an unknown future. He’s shocked with the new dating scene these days.

“Hey, Brad, try this dating app,” suggests his good friend Camille. Brad types a hopeful profile and anticipates possibilities.

His hopes are soon frustrated. “I tried out the dating app. But Camille, the only person it matches me with is you!”

While the app results disappoint, Brad sees a silver lining.

Crafting the profile helps him better know who he is and the type of person he’s looking for.  Writing down relationship needs is like praying for a new midlife partner.

Soon, God’s answer will match the profile.

Two years earlier and fifty miles away, Shawna never expects to say that prayer.

For 30 years, she and Brett are married ski bums. That changes one fateful day on Park City’s Payday Run. In a G-force competitive practice run, he skis too far left.

Life stops for Shawna.

She is stuck looking back.

Memories flood her eyes as if trying to fill her heart’s empty ache. She is overwhelmed with grief’s sadness, longing and lost hopes for their future together.

Shawna and her two children create a memorial on a tree by the run. Crisscrossed skis. His picture. Stuffed animals. Most are monkeys whose long fuzzy arms stay wrapped around branches in sun, wind and snow.

After some time, Shawna heals through her season of grief.

Slowly, she turns toward an uncertain future. She dates different men, but her dissatisfaction increases.

Her prayers for a midlife partner become quite lively conversations with God. 

Brad and Shawna’s desperate prayers rise to God’s ears.

Their prayers aren’t intended to make God do anything. More like sharing frustration and hopes with their listening Creator. And trying to get in line with God’s plan.

Whatever that is.

New possibilities are dawning as each gives up control. They resolve to wait.

Rather anxiously.

They can’t imagine how the universe will soon conspire to bring their intentions to fulfillment.

As if God meets them half-way.

These days, Brad is into new risks.

He’s been windsurfing 20 years in the Salt Lake City, Utah area. Now he wants more.

So he calls his life-long friend. “Hey Eric, I want to learn something new. May I borrow the Aerodyne Junbi paraglider stored in your garage?”

“This is a dangerous sport, Brad. I will lend you my equipment. But you have to promise me you’ll take lessons and learn to fly safely.”

“I promise,” Brad assures his adventure buddy of many years. Soon, Brad finds a flying instructor at The Point of the Mountain South Side Flight Park.

The sun rises with fresh possibilities on this warm spring day.

Brad learns safety checks, paraglider care and wind-reading. Safe launching and landing procedures come next. Then he repeatedly trudges uphill 200 feet to test low-altitude flying.

“Hey, Brad,” Jonathan radios, “What are you focusing on?”

“Flying the wing,” Brad responds into his headset, glancing down on his instructor.

“Yes, fly the wing—no matter what happens or distracts you. You’re looking good, Brad!”

“Thanks, Jonathan. I’m getting the hang of this. I can’t wait to fly from the top!”

Finally, the trainees are prepared to catch more air. They climb into the van and ride up the inviting mountain.

Excitement wrestles with nervousness.

Now that he isn’t concentrating on hanging in mid-air, Brad focuses on a concern dear to his lonely heart.

“Hey Jonathan, are there any older single women up here whom I can meet?”

“Not sure, Brad. Why? You looking?”

“More like praying. Looking isn’t working!” Brad’s relationship hopes pause again.

“You’re gonna have to work this out, God. I’ll wait.” he whispers.

The van pauses close to the top.

Brad, the outdoor-lover, makes a life-altering decision. He leaves the van to walk the remaining distance across this gorgeous mountain-top.

Ripples of grass and sweet-smelling flowers rub his ankles. It’s as if he’s floating on purple-sequined green cloud waves. Birds beckon him from above. He takes in the beauty through eyes and ears. 

Brad stops a moment to breath in this miraculous day.

Slowly.

At the same time, Shawna glides above on warm wind updrafts. She wonders about this tall guy walking on the mountain with paraglider in hand.

“Who is this?” As treasurer of the Utah Hang Gliding Paragliding Association, she knows everyone.

Except this energetic hiker.

Brad inhales the mountain beauty deep into his lungs. The clean air tingles new possibilities through his body. He slowly exhales like a prayer at one with nature.

Above his head, Shawna’s curiosity peaks. She lands next to this new guy. 

“Hi, I’m Shawna. Who are you? You learning to fly?”

“Yep, it’s my first day. I’m Brad.”

After a brief conversation, Shawna flies off into the bright blue sky.

“See ya, Brad.”

Later, Brad awaits his turn to fly.

A short distance ahead, Shawna lands to speak with Jonathan. A paraglider lands and the guy gives Shawna money in exchange for something.

“What the…?” Brad wonders. Drugs? When Brad gets to know her, he’ll realize she collects club dues.

Shawna approaches to better know the new paraglider. “Hi, Brad. Want some gum?”

“Ah, yes, thank you,” he quietly says, choosing not to tell his latest thought. The fruity flavor enlivens his tongue. And his entire being.

Or is it her unforgettable smile?

“How long have you been flying, Shawna?”

“About 10 years. I love it.”

“Brad, it’s your turn,” Jonathan interrupts.

“Gotta go, Shawna. See ya.” Brad runs off the mountain suspended on golden sun rays.

“I hope so,” Shawna says under her breath. “Or will I never see you again?”

She almost flies down to the training van awaiting the newbies. Shawna is comfortable hanging in mid-air under a paraglider. But following a guy she just met down a mountain is too high-risk.

By day’s end, Brad and Shawna are curious—if not a bit smitten. Each asks Jonathan for the other’s contact info. But Brad can’t wait.

At home, he smiles to himself, “She swept me off my feet. Literally!”  His mouth chomps the gum. It still tastes fruity—if only in memory.

Finally, the internet search yields her number. Brad stops chewing a moment to call. He leaves the dreaded first relationship message.

Tentative.

Hopeful.

Years later, Brad will discover the long-forgotten journal entry scratched this night:

“I think I met my wife today.”

Intimacy with a new person is challenging.

This is especially true when both were married to others for 30 years. 

“We should have our first kiss skydiving,” Shawna suggests. “Maybe it would be easier. Kind of special.”

“Oh, well,” he thinks, “that will be a long time from now!” He plans to take relationships slow.

The next week, they go on their first date. While playing tennis on a beautiful sunny day, Shawna gazes at the blue sky. She longs to fly.

“Look at this gorgeous day! Let’s go skydiving.”

Soon, they are 12,500 feet (3,800m) above the earth.

Brad falls from the airplane attached to Phil, whom Shawna trains to skydive 15 years prior.

Wind shudders their suits as the men fall belly-first at 125 mph (200 kph).

Shawna, weighing considerably less than two large men, follows from the plane. Immediately, she tips into a head-first 150 mph (240 kph) dive to catch up.

Flying close to Brad, she moves in to give him a passionate mid-air kiss. Satisfied with her 125mph feat, she celebrates by somersaulting away into the blue sky.

By the time Brad and Phil land, Shawna is already on the ground. Running toward them, she tackles the men before they can detach.

Brad and Shawna kiss again.

It’s hard to tell.

Is the electricity in their veins from a two-mile free-fall adrenaline-rush?

Or the tingling in their lips?

For months, these two active adventurers speed through dates. Biking, hiking, paragliding. One Saturday bike-ride ends 100 miles later!

They work out plans together, no matter who brings up the idea.

Shawna gains relationship approval from her cocker spaniel. Dolly doesn’t like most men, but she loves Brad. This gets Shawna’s attention. After loving Brad into the household, Dolly soon passes on to “doggy heaven.” This is a really sad week.

Brad struggles with disillusionment, grief and negativity from his divorce. Yet, Shawna loves him as he is. It take months for him to believe it.

Brad checks out Shawna’s reputation. Feedback is overwhelmingly positive. Except for a stern warning.

“You’re seeing Shawna? You’ll never keep up with that girl!” 

So far, this relationship seems out of this world.

Soon it rises to greater heights. Even with fair warning about this lively woman, Brad plans the ultimate risk.

They travel southeast of Salt Lake City. At 3:00, they begin hiking up Mount Timpanogos. A romantic air hangs in the dark morning.

Several miles into the adventure, their headlamps reflect two eyes spaced well-apart. A less-than-romantic jolt shoots through their bodies. Shawna shouts in a whisper.

“That’s a moose!”

They carefully back away from the humongous creature.

“I think he’s demanding our granola bars as trespassing fees,” Brad quips with a smile in the dark. “I’m not giving them up. We need them to celebrate at the top.”

“Me either. We don’t need a moose to this relationship. You’re enough to handle, Brad.”

They bushwhack a respectfully wide path around their new friend. Soon, they treck up the mountain with remarkable energy. As if propelled by something new about to happen.

After 3 hours and 8 miles (13 km) up the Timpooneke Trail, their legs ache, hearts pound and lungs heave in thin air.

At the rocky top, golden purple rays paint heavenly works of art. The bright orange ball of life peaks above the horizon.

Futures of possibility dawn.

Other hikers settle onto rocks in anticipation. One man perches on a boulder, getting out his guitar to serenade the morning.

Brad and Shawna find an inviting spot among the rocks.

Brad quells his nerves.

Leaning on each other, they rest from this exhilarating hike. Shawna feels his slight trembling and dismisses it as left-over adrenaline.

At 11,749 feet (3,581m)—just a little lower than a skydive—life feels abundant with opportunity. Sun rays warm the crisp air.

Brad grips his right hand. He directs his nervous energy into kneeling legs. “Shawna?”

She turns her gaze from the amazing sunrise toward her boyfriend. He looks handsome. And oddly cute on his knees before her.

She smiles.

Brad looks into his girlfriend’s eyes and opens his right hand. “Shawna, will you marry me?”

Like many of their new relationship events, the moment of Shawna’s response is extraordinary.

“Yes, yes of course!” she says, hugging him with a long kiss.

Magic heightens as strumming music begins on the boulder over there. At the same incredible moment, fireworks ignite behind rocks in the other direction.

Hikers enjoying the spectacular sunrise see Brad rise from his knee. They clap and congratulate Shawna and Brad.

“Yeah, I planned all this,” Brad teases.

Is it happenstance? Or is God working all this out to show delighted approval? To give proof of answered prayers?

This is a spectacular beginning of a new adventure.

Together.

Brad and Shawna can’t sit closer together.

They dig into packs and find treasured energy bars. Leaning into each other, they gaze across majestic mountains.

Prayers for midlife partners are answered. They celebrate with the sweet taste of chocolate chips, granola and cool water.

Later this afternoon, they drive away from their mountain top morning. Brad Paisley sings “Then” on the radio:

“Now you’re my whole world. 
I just can’t believe the way 
I feel about you…”

“…We’ll look back someday
At this moment that we’re in
And I’ll look at you and say
‘And I thought I loved you then.'”

“I love you, Brad,” Shawna says, smiling at her new fiance. “Oh, I have one marriage condition. Please learn to ski better so we can do it together.”

As seasons change, her instruction and patience will help him improve. He will finally be able to keep up with her. When Park City recruits Shawna as ski instructor, they hire Brad as well.

Years later, you will see the lovebirds skiing Park City’s runs. Or hiking mountains. Or paragliding. 

Always working it out together.

God answers their prayers with a high-flying, faith-filled, fast-moving relationship.

Soon, Brad and Shawna marry.

This story might make a romantic adventure movie. A fairy-tale, maybe?

But the moral of the story is not what you think.

What is Shawna and Brad’s key to living happily-ever-after?

Praying for the perfect person?
Having similar interests?
Going on daring adventures?

Ten years later, Brad and Shawna will say those ideas don’t make a marriage. The secret of their high-flying adventurous marriage is quite down-to-earth.

“We’ve lived half our lives and each been married before. We know what we want and what we’re getting into. We didn’t wait to see if the relationship will work out.”

From the beginning, they admit struggles and disagreements will come.

Their marriage is as difficult as it is delightful. But they communicate their needs and commit to make it work.

Whatever it takes.

“Since we find what we look for, we look for the good. We encourage the best in the other. Instead of complaining about shortcomings, we treat the other as we want them to be.”

Shawna and Brad try to live her idea of unconditional love. “Loving someone no-matter-what gets us close to loving like God loves.”

In our daily adventure and struggle on this earth, could this be God’s answer?  The highest form of relationship?

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