first steps

so i was at church this morning. we're talking about the book of john. i'll be the first to admit that i don't know the bible very well. clearly my parochial upbringing left much to be desired in regards to my religious education. sorry sister ann! don't take it personally...i was only 8! honestly? this is the first time in my life where i have even tried to read and/or understand the bible. i know it's in english (most of the time) and i should be able to understand the written word...but i just don't get the whole thou sayest, bequeethest, cometh nonsense. so i took a trip to the good ole family christian bible store and bought a niv version. light bulb! took me 29 yrs to figure out that it is possible to understand what those prophets are a preachin. but i digress...

due to my unfamiliarity with the word i tend to take copious notes. that, and the fact that i really enjoy what pastor mike has to say. one of the reasons why i like the church so much is because he is so great at taking verses from the bible and connecting them to real life situations. one of the points he made today was that god uses people in the process. he talked about how certain people are brought into our lives to start our journey and help us along the way. (copied straight from my notes!) i have always believed this but i'm beginning to find more and more validity in it. i'm able to look at the role a person has played in my life and how that has effected decisions i have made. i'm beginning to piece together how they have shaped who i am today.

many times i'm still writing down something pastor mike has said when he's already moved on. that's just human nature i guess. i just can't write as fast as he can talk!

so as i'm writing god creates a hunger in your heart

i'm thinking man that is just so true. the desire to go to church and learn about god has been inside me for a couple of years now but i just didn't know what to do about it. 

i write someone invites you to church (bethany!)

and i hear "about once a month we like to have these welcome desserts where we invite new people into our home and they get the opportunity to ask any questions they have."

i write happens to be the right time...

and i hear "a couple of months ago we had one of these welcome desserts..."

and i think hey i was there a couple of months ago...

i write and place

and i hear "and there was this lady there. she was in her late 20s..."

i look up
oh. my. gosh. he's talking about me.

"and a high school teacher."
(audibly inhale) he's telling my story.

"she had a catholic upbringing but hadn't really been to church in awhile. well at these desserts we always ask, "what brought you to rocky peak?" she said that she had been going through some troubles and her friend, who is also a high school teacher, asked her if she wanted to go to church with her. she said ok. so she came to church that weekend and was sitting there and said it was like i was talking directly to her. it was like we had this connection. and she just thought, "woa." so she came back the next week to see if the connection was still there...and it was. so she came back the 3rd week to see if the connection was still there...and it was. and now she keeps coming back to see what this connection is all about. this is a perfect example of..."

at this point i am in complete and utter shock. i can't believe that my story - my little insignificant story - has just been used in a sermon.

afterward, i wanted to talk to pastor mike. i went up to speak to him (and waited in line. what can i say? he's a popular guy!) and was wondering if he would even know who i was. i know...he remembered me enough to tell the entire congregation about me...but i hadn't actually talked to him one-on-one since that welcome dessert he spoke of. when it was my turn he looked at me, smiled, and said, "giuseppina!" he gave me a big hug and said, "that was your story i told." "i know! i recognized it!" he said it was inspiring and i told him i was completely humbled by it. he said it wasn't even in his notes. that he was talking the night before and he thought of it and added it in. he said he went home that night and prayed and said if he felt moved by it he would share it again in the morning. he told my story at all three services this weekend. 

i can't begin to tell you how overwhelmed and humbled i am by this whole experience. the congregation is huge. out of every person there, out of every story that he knows, out of the whole bible...he chose to talk about me and how i got there. that just moves me to tears. i never never realize the impact i make on people, the fact that i could inspire someone. i just can't believe it. and then when it's brought to my attention? well that just shakes me to my core, leaves me in disbelief, and staring in amazement.

someone thinks i'm inspiring? :) who knew?

*you can actually listen to the message with my story in it here (starting somewhere around min 38 if you're interested)*

Comments

[Dawn]

I think it's so important to find a place that is conducive to your spiritual growth. Someplace that you feel like you fit & can be taught in a way that keeps you hungry for more. I also think we never realize how much impact we have on those around us. Always makes me think of "It's a Wonderful Life" and the ripple effect of lives we touch without really seeing it. =)

[Brianna]

That is so cool! I'm glad you've been able to find some place that feels like home for you. I'm still looking for that place myself.

[jen]

awesome. reading this brought me to tears. thank you SO much for sharing :) i can't wait to listen to the sermon now!!

[Michelle]

I MISS YOU!!!!! We can rely on chats! I think we need to revert to old fashioned letter writing and emailing!!!

I hope you're well my dear friend!

xoxox