Last night we had an interesting dinner conversation. I needed to head to church to organize baby clothes for our Teen MOPS group. The conversation centered around who would go to church with me as my bodyguard–either my husband or one of my sons.
It ended up my that my husband went with me, but when I mentioned how crazy it was I needed a bodyguard to go to church my son commented, “You got to go where the people need you most, Mom.”
You see, we attend a multi-ethnic church on the “bad side of town” in Little Rock. There are robberies and murders in that area often–we’ve seen the lights and heard the sirens. Some things are scary. At church I’ve been approached by drunk homeless men who needed a ride somewhere. Some things are just different.
Tonight I listened to the same Hispanic worship song being played over and over as I cleaned.
(Someone must have been practicing for Sunday.) Somethings move me.
I’ve visited the church while low income families were carting away boxes of food. Some things make me realize I can give me and be more than I thought. I’ve served at a Thanksgiving festival where I could only communicate with 1/2 of the kids who were playing the games with me.
And I love it!
My church in Montana was amazing … but I felt very comfortable there. I was known. I belonged.
Most of the time at my new church I feel out of my comfort zone, yet I know God is with me every step of the way. There are people there who need me, even if it does mean I need to take a bodyguard with me on occasion.
What about you? Where in your real life do you feel God leading you into the scary, different, or uncomfortable world?
What a great post. Love your honesty!
I’ve been comfortable for quite awhile now.. I’m thinking that 2011 is the year where God plans on shaking some things up for me! I’m a little nervous.. but so up for the adventure of it all
You know, I’m not sure where God is leading us – my husband and I – or our family as a whole. But I know things are stirring in our hearts to be used by Him and we’re seeking His heart and direction but just not sure what that entails yet.
Tricia, this sounds like my old neighborhood. *smile* We moved away 7 years ago because of a job change. So we’ve lived in suburbia for all that time and I’ve been comfortable but longing for that ‘normal’ again. Now we’re on the edge of another job change and relocation and I’m trusting God to place us in a position to be in that uncomfortable-normal zone of ministry again. I’ll keep you in my prayers.
Thanks for sharing.