Morning Star Fellowship - part 10

Here's another installment on Shawn Hart.  I think I'm going to share about him in three parts - not two.  He's an important character in the "Dawn Comes Softly" story collection.  I think it will turn out that in every story we'll either see Shawn or hear his voice (on the phone).  If not then Shawn will be somehow referred to during the course of the story.

Shawn Hart  (part 2)
It was at KVCC where Shawn met a girl named Marianne Smith.  They both had some classes together.  She was from the town of Gold Prairie - which was in the middle of the valley and about half way between Kye Valley and Shaw Falls.  Marianne was the kind of person who always smiled, and always had something encouraging to say to someone.  Her long waist-length hair reminded Shawn of Lydia.  Except Marianne was a blue-eyed blonde while Lydia was a brown-eyed brunette.

Shawn and Marianne became good friends, and later started dating.  Shawn remembered that he had made bad decisions and committed sin in his relationship with Lydia.  He had already asked God for His forgiveness for what he had done.  He now asked God to help him not make those same decisions with Marianne.  He asked God to help him always respect Marianne and treat her like a lady.  Shawn always made sure that he and Marianne were never alone somewhere together in a private place.  He was always very careful that someone else was close by.  In fact he had asked that they not kiss while they were dating, and she agreed.

Shawn wanted to tell Marianne about his relationship with Lydia.  But he wasn't sure how to tell her.  About three different times he tried to share it with her, and they were interrupted every time by someone else.  Someone else wanted to talk to Shawn or Marianne at that moment.  Also, the subject of virginity never came up.

Shawn and Marianne both worked together with the youth group at Morning Star Fellowship.  They were married a year after he graduated from college.  A little while later he became the youth pastor at Morning Star Fellowship.  Shawn enjoyed leading the youth and ministering to them.  He was always careful to stop what he was doing and listen when someone needed to talk.  He was available for the youth to come to his office and talk with him.  He always prayed with them.

One day Shawn overheard Marianne tell someone, "Yes, we were both virgins when we were married."

Shawn knew that wasn't true.  But, he also knew that Marianne had no idea.  Several years had already gone by, and not even his own family had a clue about what all had happened between him and Lydia.  Shawn thought about finally telling everyone the truth.  At the same time he wondered if it would do more harm then good.  He really did not want to disappoint anyone or let anyone down.  Shawn also knew that the more time passed the harder it would be to share with even one person.  Maybe for the greater good it was better to let the secret continue between him and God.  Still, Shawn felt like he was living a facade, and he really didn't like that.