Our Story

Meeting in Second Life

Tim: Sometime around the beginning of 2006, I was listening to a technology podcast and they were discussing Second Life, an online virtual world where you could create your own character and interact with characters and environments that other players had created. The best thing... you could fly in Second Life. I quickly joined and became Brand Trilam, an angel with a scar. In addition to exploring the creations in this online world, I began welcoming new members and helping them navigate through the initial bumblings most new players experienced. I was helping at one of the Welcome Areas when I first met Luthien.

Sharon: At the beginning of April 2006, my friend Erik gave me a call to tell me about a strange article he was reading in Business Week. It told about a virtual universe where people from all over the globe could go to create a "Second Life," for themselves. They created little versions of themselves called "avatars," bought virtual property, started virtual businesses, and made REAL money somehow. I was baffled. He said he had created a free account, and had been wandering around in there for an hour or so. He suggested I go in too, as maybe we could start a virtual pub there, and make some money. It was very difficult to picture, so I had to go see for myself.

Once in, I spent a good deal of time editing my figure. I tried to make her look as realistically like me as possible. Once she was pretty close to a cartoon version of me, I went to a Welcome Area. It was quite bizarre. Avatars of all shapes and sizes, walking around in this cartoon world. I wandered, trying to get the controls right for walking, and looking around.

Just then, I saw a guy with white angel wings come flying down on the ground some feet away. My avatar must've been looking right at him, because he typed into the chat box, "Hello, Luthien." Uh-oh, my first discussion with a complete stranger here. I typed back, "Nice wings." He said thanks, and asked if I was new. I told him it was very first hour, and he offered to answer any questions for me, and showed me how to "teleport" from one location to the next. Basically gave me a tutorial of the basics of navigating around in there. It was very helpful. We added each other to our friends lists, and said goodbye. His name was Brand Trilam.

Brand (Tim): Weren't you wearing wings and a cowboy hat?

Luthien (Sharon): No! I didn't even have wings yet. And even if I'd known how to wear a hat at that point, I would not have worn a cowboy hat!

Brand: Hmmm... must have been one of the other newbies. Anyway, we didn't see each other much after that.

Luthien: About a month later, I saw he was in and sent an instant message asking what he was up to that day. He said he was doing nothing, so suggested we "hang out." He teleported (TP'd) me to his house he had built, which was quite impressive. We talked a little about virtual things. Then he said he had a couple cool placed to show me. I agreed. First, he TP'd me to a virtual "log ride."

Brand: I loved the log ride. It was a sim someone had built that had a fallen log you clicked to sit on, then it would fly you around on a path through trees and beautiful scenery. It was pretty amazing.

Luthien: I remember while we were flying around, he typed "Weeee!" I was a bit surprised, as I thought that was a rather nerdy thing to come out of a goth looking angel.

Brand: Hey! We were in a big upside-down loop. Of course I'd yell, Weeee!

Luthien: Next, he took me to a gondola ride in a sim with a lovely little canal. We sat in the gondola, and began to float around. Still trying to figure out how to work the camera option in my toolbar, I took a clumsy picture.

Brand: Yeah. I heard the camera "click."

Luthien: Oops... As we floated, he suddenly asked me what I did in "real life." I told him all the things I was involved in, but when I said I did a weekly podcast, he latched on keenly.

Brand: I love podcasts!

Luthien: He asked the name of mine so he could listen. I remember thinking, "Well, this goth guy is going to listen to my Christian podcast, and be so repulsed, but, oh well; I never have to speak to him again." So I told him the name. He told me he was finishing up his Masters in counseling, and I found it coincidental that my degree is in Psychology. We chatted a few minutes more, and said our goodbyes. It was a nice little visit, and I figured it'd be the last time we spoke. I was quite wrong.

Brand: Neither of us had gone into Second Life looking for a relationship, but it did sound like we had quite a bit in common, so I was intrigued. That night, I downloaded Sharon's podcast to my iPod and started listening to it before going to sleep. I had no idea it was a Christian program. I remember enjoying the banter between Sharon, Erik, and Matt as they talked about movies and music and who-knows-what-else. But about 20 minutes into the program, Sharon made a reference to "praying" about a decision she had to make. I remember thinking, "Well, that's pretty bold for someone to say." Then, later, she began making other references to God and church and I slowly began to realize that we had something significant in common -- not just faith, but a kind of faith that finds its strength in grace. The more I listened, the more excited I became. I got up in the middle of the night, went into Second Life, and left a message for Luthien.

Luthien: The next morning, I had two or three instant messages from him. I could tell he was pretty excited. He told me I would not believe what he had to tell me. He said he hoped to see me in SL soon. I must admit, I was more than a little intrigued.

When I saw him later that day, I asked what was such big news. It was then he proceeded to tell me that we had a lot in common, and that "we share faith." In addition, not only was he originally from Florida, but his parents, brother, and aunt and uncle still lived here. He was also familiar with Steve Brown, with whom my podcast is affiliated. And the part that caught my attention most, was when he said there was a possibility he was moving down to Orlando from Indiana, to work with his uncle, once he graduated from his masters program.

It is one of the few times in my life, that I have actually had my mouth drop open, and hang there. I could not believe what I was reading. And I think all I could type was "No way!!!"

Brand: I remember thinking how strange it was that we'd had those moments of casual connection in Second Life without ever realizing how much we had in common. Now I just wanted to find out more.

Luthien: Within a month or so, we were having long phone conversations, and discussing whether or not to meet. After initially lying about his age, he admitted he was 12 years my senior, which was at first bit disconcerting.

Brand: My bad, I admit. I initially shaved a few years off when we first started talking about real life things. Then, once I had said it, I couldn't figure out how to UNsay it! It was a bit awkward and I thought she might lose interest.

Luthien: I decided to meet him anyway, to see what he was like in person.

It was decided that on the weekend of July 10th, he would drive down to Orlando, so we could meet. I was nervous at first, but when the day arrived, and I drove downtown to the Westin Hotel where he was staying, the nervousness sort of melted away. When I walked into the lobby, I saw him standing across the room, a huge smile plastered across his face, and his hands in his pockets. I remember thinking, "Aww, he's cute."

Brand: I was so nervous waiting for her, but when I finally saw her -- this petite little woman with big eyes and a big smile -- the nervousness drained away.

Luthien: I walked over to him, and we gave each other a big hug. Strangely, it was not awkward at all. Instead, it felt like home.

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