11-21-2010

Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see. ~Mark Twain

On my journey of life, I seem to be learning something new every day. Today, I learned a little about pride and a lot about what my new church family means to me.

I have come through the hardest part of my life and I am so happy to say that tonight, for the first time, I truly am looking back from the other side of it all. Sometimes, when something happens that shatters your entire life, it takes a while to find all the pieces and put them back together. Tonight I realized that, sometimes, God helps us to find new pieces that fit us even better than the old ones we lost.

Two years ago, I tried out a new church for the first time since I was 8 years old. It was a whole new world to me. Luckily, I already knew a few people at this church, and I felt like it was a good place for me to be. I knew God was telling me to go there, and I quickly dove right in. I immediately volunteered to help in any way possible, and was promptly given the responsibility of running the sound system for our Wednesday night youth services.

It was ok at first, but I quickly began to feel uncomfortable with the responsibility. I felt weighed down, and ultimately I was very scared that I would get myself involved at this church, in the way I was so deeply involved at my last one, and that, in the end, I would be hurt again. So, I ended up resigning from my volunteer position. After that I was embarrassed by the fact that I went back on my word and bailed on my commitment, so I stopped going to that church. For a long time I didn't go to church at all. I was a broken person, and I didn't know what to do.

Eventually, after trying out a few different churches around town, I KNEW that I needed to go back to the church I left from so embarrassed. So, I wrote the youth leader an email, and tried my best to explain my reasoning behind everything. Thankfully, he was fully understanding and I started fresh again at that church, determined to do nothing but warm a seat and find myself in God once again.

It has been over a year that I have been back at Metroplex Family Church and I am so happy that God lead me there. For a long time, all I did was attend service, warming the seat closest to the back door every single Sunday morning. However, as I am sure I am destined to forever do, I eventually got involved with the youth ministry.

Tonight, as I was on my way to a youth game night, I stopped at a Quick Trip to get some gas. I turned my car off, leaving the key in the ignition, and before I realized it, locked and closed my door. GREAT. Locked out of my car. To top it all off, the key locked in the ignition was my SPARE, as I had recently lost my original and haven't made another copy yet. Wonderful.

So, I called my dad, and when I realized he wouldn't be able to help me, I called my best friend. When she told me she didn't know exactly how she could help me either, I felt a little hopeless. I may have even teared up, but I am not going to fully admit that. =)

Finally, I decided to text the youth pastor, since I knew he would be heading out that way for the game night. A few minutes later, he and two youth came and rescued me by using a wire coat hanger to unlock my doors!

They have NO idea what this meant to me.

My last church was like family to me. I had known them all since childhood, and as I made the transition to this new church, I must admit, it has been very difficult for me to make friends. Maybe it is my own fault for being closed off, but either way, I have CRAVED the family feeling I have always known. At times, I have considered trying out a different church, certain that it CAN'T be this hard to form relationships everywhere...

Tonight I learned that the people at my church DO care for me and do work as a part of the Body of Christ by helping one another out in every day, REAL life ways. I am thankful for this knowledge and these relationships. It seems like the one thing that I have been missing for the past two years has finally found me again.

The people in my life mean EVERYTHING to me, and I am so thrilled to be a part of this church. Thanks, guys, for your help! It meant more to me than just saving on the expense of calling a locksmith.

What a night!