I'm sitting here at the kitchen table preparing myself for a pretty emotional day. We're now less than a week from our drive down to Albuquerque and all of the new adventures that await us there, but all I can think about right now is that this is our last Sunday morning at Fairwood Church as regulars. I went in there for the first time in late January of 2009 having no idea that it would become such a special place.
A few weeks before I met Laura, I was at a crossroads in my life. I was growing tired of going through the motions of life when it came to everything- my job, friendships, and mostly my own relationship with God. I only went to Him when I felt like there was nowhere else that I could go; that was also the case in general. I often did my own thing and only confided in people when I felt that it was absolutely necessary. Aside from the time I spent with co-workers Monday through Friday, my life was lonely and had very little meaning. Years of being alone here in Washington without family had taken its toll and I had more or less given up on being happy here. I didn't know what to do anymore.
I was raised to believe in God and went to a small Baptist church for a few years as a kid. I began to really get into it thanks to my neighbors, the Hares, down the street from us. The kids in the family-Tina, Tami, and Dallas, were good friends of mine and their mother Linda was the one who first worked with me when I realized that I wanted to sing. Their grandfather was the "preacher" at a church that he built and rebuilt and my sisters and I would either go with he and his wife or the Hares to church every Sunday. Linda had talked me into singing at church while she played piano for me, so I usually did and it was fun. I was saved when I was nine and for all the world, it seemed like I was destined to be a lifelong follower of God. I don't remember what happened, but we eventually stopped going and for the next twenty-five years or so, I fell into a pattern of just being lost. God was always there, but he wasn't a part of who I was.
Now that I've given a little bit of background, we'll fast-forward back to the decision that led me to God, Laura, and Fairwood Church. I knew that I had to make changes in my life that included bringing God back into my life. I had toiled with this several times in years past and I always had the same thought. I wanted to, but I didn't want to do it alone. This time I was committed to it and I signed up on christianmingle.com, which is a dating website designed to bring Christians together. I was upfront about where I was at spiritually and that I wanted to meet someone that would understand that I needed patience and time to rebuild my relationship with God. Like a lot of people, my perception of most Christians was that they were pushy in general and very judgmental. Either you were 100% into it or you were cast off. I ran into that first-hand a few years back when I was considering a relationship with someone I went to school with as a kid and the last thing I wanted was to waste my time with that again.
Laura was the first and only person I met on that website. It seemed like God knew I was ready. She really understood my intentions and immediately accepted me. One of the first things we talked about on our first date was her time at Fairwood Church. She was very enthusiastic about how she felt welcomed there right off the bat and that they provided a very relaxed atmosphere that was a great fit for her. I was skittish at first about going and passed the first time she invited me. I thought about it for a few days and decided to go for the first time the following Sunday.
I knew my life had changed the very first time I went there and that God had special plans for my relationship with Laura. The more I went, the more I loved it. The pastors and regulars there all knew Laura very well and took me in as one of them very quickly. Within the first few months, I had begun to serve with her there, had rededicated my life to Christ, and gotten baptized. Fairwood had become home and such a huge part of my life. Laura and I got married there last April and everything I could have ever wanted from that decision I made has come to fruition. I found God, my best friend Laura, and more friends in that church than I probably think I have.
I know this is gonna be a very emotional day for Laura. She's been through good and bad there at Fairwood and so many have been with her before and since I came into her life. I thank you all for helping her become the person she is. I know that no matter what happens down the road, God has her heart and because of that she will always have mine.
I also thank all of you at Fairwood for being there for me. There are so many of you who have influenced me in more ways than you'll ever know. It's a bittersweet day, for sure, but we'll be back to visit from time to time and we'll look forward to seeing you again. There's always this "pet blog" and Facebook if you ever want to know what we're up to down there in the desert...or you could just call us. We love you guys...
Wow...only six more days!
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