I Went to See Guy, but I Met Nancy

     I, like many of you, am a HUGE Guy Penrod fan.  I believe that when he sings his faith and belief shine through the notes and the expressions on his face like no one else.  My husband knows what a fan I am, so he surprised me this month with a precious gift.  Precious because he planned and kept it secret for several weeks just to surprise me.  Here's the story...
     Several weeks ago my husband called to ask what we had planned for December 4th.  I said we had nothing planned, so he told me to keep the date open because he had plans for us.  He wouldn't tell me, so I started calling it my Mystery Date.  (Didn't you love that game when you were a little girl?)  Half the fun of a good mystery is trying to figure it out, so I would occasionally and randomly ask questions like, "What is happening on December 4th?"  "Where are we going?"  "Is it inside or outside?"  My husband is really good at keeping secrets.  All he would say is that I could wear jeans but to dress it up a little and that it wasn't in Chattanooga.  Hmmm.... that's not a good hint! 
     I was supposed to be ready to leave home by three-thirty or four that afternoon.  When we headed south, I was sure we were headed to Atlanta.  Then we turned west and headed down Battlefield Parkway.  Now I was sure he was going the round-about way to Chattanooga and we were going to the Christmas event at the aquarium.  Nope, we missed that turn.  When we turned down highway 193, I was very confused because that road leads to the county, not the city where the good events surely must be.  We just drove and drove and drove.  It was far enough that he had to turn on Google Maps.  When we finally neared our destination, it was beautiful.  Mountain Cove Farms is WAY out in the country near the foot of Lookout Mountain in Walker County.  There were signs that said, "Welcome to Christmas in the Cove." 
     Then there was a sign that said, "Meet and Greet at the Manor."  Um.  Who are we meeting and greeting?????  I don't do this type of thing well.  He still wouldn't tell me.  When we parked to go in the restaurant, he finally handed me the tickets.  All I saw was two words.  Guy Penrod.  Surprised is not even close to the right word.  Wow!  Then my husband said the sweetest thing, "I didn't buy the meet and greet because I know you don't really like that sort of thing."  AWWWWW!  Thirty years together and he knows so well that I would be perfectly content at the concert.  That's why I love him!
      So, we walked into the restaurant, and I obliviously walked straight past Guy sitting at his dinner table.  He had his back to the door and was surrounded by his crew.  Just a bunch of guys eating dinner.  Connally said, "Did you see?"  I turned around and just smiled.  Dinner was good, but the concert was better.  We were close, about four rows back.  There were only 300 people there.  It was in a beautiful old white barn that had been decorated with white lights.  I was excited and ready for the show to begin.  Then it happened.
     The sweetest little lady came to cross in front of us for a seat.  She had a cane and smiled and said, "Just let me hold onto your hand."  Her hands were warm - it was a cold night.  She told me they had traveled a long way to get there and that she was very excited.  She has every one of his albums and takes her daily nap listening to his Christmas CD right now.  She smiled constantly.  She told me she thought she wouldn't get to come because of some recent surgery and shared with me about some health issues and doctors' appointments she is facing.  I shared my story with her.  She is the pianist at her church and has been since she was fifteen years old.  She loves the Lord and it showed. 
     As the concert started, Guy came out and led us all in singing old hymns.  The Old Rugged Cross, What a Friend we Have in Jesus, Count Your Blessings, Victory in Jesus....you get the idea.  It was so powerful because of his strong faith and belief.  I cried through a lot of it.  Just because of the joy that was flowing from my heart.  Listening to those people sing, to my husband sing, those old songs of faith.  But the highlight of the night was the look on my new friend's face as she sang one particular song. 

He Hideth My Soul

1 A wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord,
A wonderful Savior to me;
He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock,
Where rivers of pleasure I see.

Chorus:
He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock
That shadows a dry thirsty land;
He hideth my life in the depths of His love
And covers me there with His hand,
And covers me there with His hand.

2 A wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord,
He taketh my burden away;
He holdeth me up, and I shall not be moved,
He giveth me strength as my day. [Chorus]

3 With numberless blessings each moment He crowns,
And filled with His fullness divine,
I sing in my rapture "Oh glory to God
For such a Redeemer as mine!" [Chorus]

4 When clothed in His brightness transported I rise
To meet Him clouds of the sky,
His perfect salvation, His wonderful love
I'll shout with the millions on high! [Chorus]

     I have that song playing now as I am typing.  I hear Guy's voice, but I see Nancy's face.  I can't describe to you the purity of the smile on her face as she sat with her eyes closed singing that song that is so familiar.  Knowing what she is facing, Knowing that her soul is hidden in The Cleft of The Rock.  I couldn't contain more tears but stopped just sort of sobbing out loud right there.  Oh that I would have such faith. 
    My adventure was more than a dream come true.  We weren't in a huge concert hall, there were just a handful of believers there that night.  We were joined together at Christmas to celebrate our savior's birth with one of the biggest names in gospel music.  But he made it personal for us, leading us in worship and sharing from his heart. 
     I am so grateful for my meet and greet with Nancy.  She touched me in a way that few in this life have.  She loves Jesus with a depth that makes her face glow like the purest crystal.  She didn't quit smiling all night.  I didn't either.  Even as the tears flowed down my face singing about my Lord who brought me through this year and continues to lead me down new paths of unexpected people and adventure.
     As we were waiting on the shuttle to take us to our car, Guy was standing just a few feet away talking to a friend.  Connally said, "Want to go over?"  I didn't.  But on the way home I said, "In light of my new blog, next time, buy the meet and greet."