Community and Connection

My lifestyle has been crazy to some. In 2009 I headed out to Northern California. Not ever doing anything like this before, pulling out of my driveway believing I would only be gone for one year. Everything had lined up for me to step out of my comfort zone and into a new level of faith I was doing the right thing.

Seven years later I had been to different Countries and States all over the world and while doing so my life was radically changed. Then came 2015 when I was offered work in Charlotte NC and since this had been home, I thought I will take it. I wanted to be closer to family for various reasons.

Since moving back it has been hard. I haven't had community or connection outside of being with family and I have no one to blame but myself.

I  have learned that if you don't have connection with those who make you thrive then you die. Not physically of course but your heart. You need connection and community to be the best of you. My first signs of not thriving is business with work and family, then I was tired and it got easier to veg out in front of a movie and sleep. Losing inthusiasm to do more. There are situations that played a part in this like dealing with some health issues, but when I was in California, in Haiti, in Asia even with those same health issues nothing stopped me from thriving.

The things I have learned are everyone needs community, however that looks like for you. Community is connection with others, connecting with what your makes your heart come alive. For me this looked like a group of people coming together and having a pot luck meal and playing board games to going on a spontaneous road trip. It was whatever I could afford to do but there is always connection

ON MY STREET

When God knows every aspect of your heart. 

The last few days have been hard for various reasons but this morning I just hit a wall. In the middle of an emotional roller coaster, from feeling angry to hurt to lost in my thoughts, I decided to mow the lawn. If you know me you know I go into clean/organize mode when I am emotionally all over the place. It can be helpful in many cases. I decided I would mow the lawn. And because I couldn't get the mower to start all those emotions exploded. A moment in time that you don't care who sees you or what they may think of you. (this is a milestone for me). 

While the tears and the snot are flowing, I am questioning everything lately. My thoughts were like a loose cannon where one thing led to another to another to where anger emerged. Most of the time that anger is directed at myself but today it was more a situational thing.

As I am clearing the yard of everything unwanted, from an old picnic table to overgrown brush I begin dragging all the limbs to the street. (This is where it gets good).

A man pulls up in his truck and says "I saw the "Bethel Redding" sticker on your car window. I'm from Chico but I use to go to Bethel all the time for their worship". Now for a split second I am frozen in my thoughts. Could this be real? How I almost changed the old sticker out for the new one that just says "Bethel" recently but decided to leave it. Important stuff like that. 

The man begins talking about his life in Chico and how he ended up in North Carolina, in Charlotte, ON MY STREET, at this very moment. He is telling me how he has been walking in the mornings and as he passes by my house to make friends with the dogs, God speaks to him to pray for this house. 

Now I am not shocked God is telling him to pray for my house. I will take all the prayer offered. but to hear his story and how God has been speaking to him about my house was a reminder God knows every aspect of my heart.

A short while earlier I was talking to my son about finding a church here and then this man drives up. He is an associate pastor of a small local church. He also has a worship mtg in his home, ON MY STREET, during the week. I told him briefly why I had moved back from California to Charlotte and he ask if he could pray for me as I stood in the middle of My STREET and as the tears started I said yes.

Whatever the outcome of this encounter today I know God was showing me He's listening and I matter. He is always with me and He will honor my hearts desires. If you are ever in doubt God is listening I am here to tell you He is. #lovewins