1 in 3,000,000,000

1 in 3,000,000,000...

Have you ever asked the question, I wonder how many people exist with me on this planet we know as earth?  My assumption is that most have. Recently I was blown away again by this figure, but this time it took on an entire new meaning to me.
As it stands today, the estimated population of the world is 6,973,738,433 people. I was fascinated by this number one evening as I was enjoying a wonderful dinner and conversation with my beautiful wife. I was perplexed by the seemingly endless number of different ways my life could have unfolded. Therefore, being a numbers and statistics geek, I began doing a little research.  But first, a story…
It was a cool fall evening in Jackson, Michigan on September 24th, 2000. We (Kayla & I) were at a YMCA camp named Camp Storer for a Young Life leader’s weekend. This place had a multitude of life altering memories for us, as this was the camp we came to as campers in high school for Young Life's fall weekend. During our first fall weekend here we found ourselves one evening after the 20 minutes, out on the soccer field sitting on a tire together that was left from a game of steal the bacon earlier in the day. On this tire we cried together for the first time, we shared deep wounds and hurts from our childhood, we mutter those three beautiful words to each other 'I love you', and for the first time - we talked about Jesus together!  Years later we would be leading Blissfield's club together, taking hundreds of students back to the same camp and taking with them for the first time about Jesus!
Because this little plot of land in the wood felt like holy ground to us & we were with some of the most important people in our life - our fellow YL leaders (I also invited our family and some close friends), I could not think of a better place to ask my girlfriend of almost seven years to be my wife!  So late that evening, after our last session, one of our YL friends from the area took Kayla out on a walk...little did she know it would be her last 30 minutes as a truly 'single' lady.
During this time my friends and co-leaders worked diligently with me to set up that same tire in the middle of that same field...with a dozen red roses and spot light on it of course. My old YL leader staked out in the bushes with the camcorder and all the others waited quietly in the club run. As Kayla returned from her walk, I was quick to meet them before they entered the club room to see all our closest friends and family gathered. I asked her if she would mind taking a short walk with now, and I still remember my heart skipping a beat as she replied, 'yes!'
As we walked towards the field, I could feel my heart pounding...it was as if she could feel my pulse through my hand as she held onto it. We walked and talked about all God had done in both of our lives, individually and together. I began reminiscing about that first fall weekend...our tears we shed, the newness of our prayer together and all God had led us through since. Then as we rounded the corner of the line of trees, there it was…the tire and roses, what would she say?
'What is that?!'  These where the first words, as I remember. I encouraged her to go and check it out, she did, and I followed. When we came to a stop at the tire, I gave her a massive hug...mostly due to the fact that I thought my knees were going to give out!  After me stumbling over a few sentences that I am sure made no sense what-so-ever, I positioned myself on one knee, pulled out the ring and asked, 'Kayla, will you marry me!?'
As I watched tears start making their way down her cold red cheeks, I heard one of the best and most life giving words ever...'Yes!'  I jumped to my feet and lifted her off the ground, as my old YL leader dashed out of the bushes and took the video to be cued up in the club room. After one of the deepest embraces of my entire life, I asked if it would be okay to celebrate together, she was confused to say the least. We made our way back to the club room, opening the door, a massive applause erupted from our friends, family and fellow YL leaders!
After a few minutes of pulling ourselves together and being flooded with hugs, kisses and congrats, we all sat down on the floor as the lights dimmed.  Right then, on the big screen, was Kayla and I – everyone was able to watch as I stumbled over my words, got down on a knee, and asked Kayla to be my wife!  It was awesome.  Then the lights came rose to a soft glow while our good friend and mentor, Jeremy Pietrocini, grabbed his guitar.  We finished out the night singing worship songs together and Jeremy closed with a prayer for us…what a night!  One that will forever be etched into my heart, soul and mind.
Okay, so what about those ‘stats’ I mentioned at the beginning?  What do they have to do with any of this?  Well, that evening after our dinner together, I did some research and found out that in the year 2000 (when I asked Kayla to marry me) the world population was 6,082,966,429.  And the percentage of males to females was 51% to 49%.  Meaning this…in the year that I asked Kayla to be my wife, I had a 1 in 2,980,653,550 choice of who would be my wife!
And now, 11 years of marriage later, I am even more convinced than I was on that cool fall night – that I made the absolute BEST choice!  People say that ‘hindsight is 20/20’, and it usually is.  However, I would say walking in the foresight of God through the Holy Spirit and the grace of Jesus, is 20/0…absolute perfect, holy, and divine vision (study what the vision ratio means J)!
So, to my amazing bride, here’s to the journey that God set before us on that amazing fall night in 2000.  Thank you for saying yes and thank you for continuing to say yes each and every morning!  God allowed me to choose you…1 out of 3,000,000,000 and I’d never want to choose anyone different. 
I love you Kayla Crist! 
-Dan
*John 10:10*