How you are all? Winding down your summer?
It's been HOT here. Phew! And we've been sick. So we haven't been off to the lake to cool off or anything. Just laying around in our air conditioning.
I thought I'd begin telling the story of my spiritual journey. I won't have the time to plan it out or anything, so this will just be off the cuff. Being sick today, it probably won't eloquent or anything as well. It's not terribly exciting in comparison to many other stories out there but its mine. Every person has a story to tell, so I give you mine. It is what it is. hahah. Now how's that for an intro?
As an aside, I know there is an ache in the human heart to know and to be known. This is the offering of my story. Of being known. The flip side is just as important. To know. Lives are made to touch, to intersect. So be brave. Tell yours as well. We all grow by listening and speaking. I would treasure the gift of your story as well.
Alrighty . . . here goes.
I grew up in a Baptist family in Alaska. My parents moved there initially to be missionaries. Church planters in The Last Frontier. :) How lucky am I? Raised in Alaska! My father died when I was two years old of diabetic complications, so unfortunately I remember nothing of him. I just hang onto any stories of him or my family before the big move to Alaska. But I imagine if my father moved his family to Alaska for Jesus, he must have been a courageous man. I love that.
So my mother was mostly the spiritual leader for our family for much of my childhood. If I could describe the faith of my mom and the church family I were I grew up, it would be faithful. Life hasn't handed my mom the easiest of circumstances but she has held firm and constant. From what I can see, she is a faithful servant who refuses to let go of living a life true to our Lord. I appreciate that in her. I also appreciate the faith community of my childhood into the young adult years. Again, they are a good, faithful group of people. Family. I have wonderful memories of Sunday School, AWANAS (Scripture memory, games,etc), Vacation Bible School, summer camp, etc. I learned my way around the Bible and learned to love Scripture. Those memorized verses are treasures. Even the Sunday School songs are treasures to me: I sing them to my kids when I tuck them into bed at night.
One thing didn't set quite right with me when I became a teenager though. It only made sense to me that we would share life with other Christians. That our little church family in one small town would extend our family in Christ beyond our four walls. Yes, we would get together with churches that has the same affiliation as ours but not to other churches with a different titles. The differences were to great, I suppose. That was frustrating to me as a teenager. I couldn't put my finger on it but it didn't feel right. I felt the world must be so much bigger than that.
So when I graduated from high school, I decided to go out on my own into the world. I would hold on to my faith but I knew the faith didn't stop beyond our small Baptist affiliation. At the same time, I knew I must be cautious. I must hold tightly and faithfully the teachings of Jesus. I was aware that there were many who called themselves Christians but who weren't faithful. They colored Christianity in whatever light that fit their fancy. I probably would have lumped Catholics into this category.
College was everything I had hoped for. I loved getting out on my own and trying out my fledgling wings. I never did figure out what I wanted to be when I grew up but that's another story. :) I went to a non-denominational Christian college, so we were required to take a certain amount of Bible and related classes. Old and New Testament, Intro to philosophy and theology, etc. I enjoyed those along with biweekly chapel, Bible studies, prayer groups, long talks into the night with new friends. I went with roommates trying out various churches. Life was good.
After college I moved to Minnesota and lived with my sister's family for a year. I continued going to whatever Bible studies I would find. After a year, I moved out on my own and found my new church family in my new city. It continued to be a growing, fruitful time for me. Young adulthood is an exciting time in life, isn't it? I loved my new church. I was very involved with the singles ministry and serving in various capacities in the church. I asked a woman there to be my mentor. She was fabulous. I was a bit of a thinker who really wanted to ask some big questions. I craved a safe place to really dig in with some honesty. Dianna. She was perfect for me. A real person who would delve right in with me and just lay it all out there. Off and I would struggle with doubt. How do I know Christianity is real? I wanted to tackle this and Dianna was an awesome woman to walk alongside.
And Dianna . . . she was the one to introduce me to my future husband. She swears she didn't mean to play matchmaker. She says that had to introduce us because we had the same heart. I believe her. She was right, we do.
To be continued soon ....
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