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A true story.

Serious clouds hung in the skies overlooking the desert settlement below. The only sounds to disturb the silence were calls from raptors flying high above the expanse of cactus and brush.

Nestled there, a small town seemed to be waiting. Barely a spot on the map, the place had only a post office, a Safeway, and a Sprouts Reitz store. A road, lonely and narrow, was adequate for the occasional pickup driving by.

Two tall young men decided to make that town their home. They would bring their creative spirits from the big city into that little community.

“Their little library needs a director,” said the tall curly-headed man. “I’d like to make it my project.”

“You do that and I’ll find us a church,” said his partner.

The library in the town was a converted house with a collection of books packed into its small rooms. A dusty computer sat on a table, and the floors creaked at every step. The tall affable fellow was hired, and he had a special talent for attracting elderly ladies to the library. Patrons learned to use the computer. Children were welcomed with treats, and the new librarian enjoyed conversation with any lonely visitor in need of company.

A church could be seen from the highway with its pointed roof like a beacon of hope in the high desert. “That looks like a place where we’d be welcome,” said the other tall newcomer, a handsome man with a smooth tan and shy smile. He liked churches even though it had been in churches that he’d known rejection. “I hear they have a lady minister. That must mean they’re progressive.”

“You can’t count on that,” said the librarian.

“I refuse to make judgments before we go inside,” said the hopeful one. “I could create music there.” He was a musician with enormous talent. He’d led choirs, played instruments, and made music a centerpiece of his life — along with design and art. Every year he created an exceptional decorated Christmas tree to delight their friends.

“Okay,” said the librarian. “We’ll give it a try.” The two men stood wondering if they’d be welcome. “We’ll think of the good ladies at the library. Some of them belong to the church.”

“Church people have to be nice,” said the musician. “I’m going to trust in the Lord.” So in they went, the librarian and artist, side by side, ready to meet new friends and hoping for acceptance in this unusual church.

The men enjoyed their visit and especially the charming minister, a blond woman in high heels and a clerical robe. She laughed; she told good stories, and she welcomed them warmly.

But inside the church, all was not perfect. Some church people wanted only members who were just like them. They wanted a church of white people who played golf, and a few turned away from these tall, handsome visitors who loved each other.

So the young men left that church and concentrated on their desert home with friendly neighbors. After a while they felt they needed something more. It’s awfully quiet around here, they thought. They wanted a child whom they could raise and love. In time, the adoption people awarded them a toddler named Matthew.

Their lives changed! They had a child’s room to furnish, new foods to buy, clothes and toys to find. It was an adventure! Matthew was a challenge, but these enterprising men learned to become parents before anything else in their lives. They learned to deal with schools, with playmates, with a growing boy who had a lively personality and tons of energy.

Over time, the jolly librarian hired more help to manage his new larger library. He was adored by the patrons, especially the elderly ladies who continued to crowd the stacks. He expanded programs to meet the needs of the growing town, and he gave talks to clubs in the area, encouraging everyone to read.

The handsome musician joined another church down the street and offered his musical talent to a supportive staff and congregation, and the minister’s wife took a special interest in Matthew. The church members appreciated their new bell choir, and accepted their exceptional leader with enthusiasm.

Matthew grew tall and good-looking. He learned to drive. He acquired a girlfriend and made his own way. Not a church person, a library patron, or an artist, he was Matthew, determined to stay connected to “The Dads” and create a life he chose.

As I look at the three of them today, I marvel at their amazing survival in a desert landscape that expanded with them — a credit to the town, its people, and the miracle of love.