Yesterday I shared with you a little of the heart lessons I learned on Saturday while at the IF local gathering in Kirklin, Indiana. Today I thought I'd tell you a little about the day itself!
Let's start with what it's like to get up at a "real" time! One of the things we did get spoiled on during our time at WillowBridge was NOT getting up super early. An early getting-up time for us there was about 7:30 so we could be prepared to be backup drivers if needed by 8 a.m. But our official day didn't begin until 9 a.m. and I tried very hard not to be overly zealous in being dressed and ready prior to that very hour.
But Saturday I needed to be on the road by 6:30 IN THE MORNING!! I pretty much got ready the night before, so I could just roll out of bed, get dressed, and get going. It is extremely rare anymore for Ryan to not accompany me to a speaking engagement. (It's one of my typical non-negotiables, but for us on this day, it worked out better for him to be back at home to tend to some other things.)
So to recap: I was up 3 hours earlier than normal, driving myself (something I have not done in a very long time), and OH!!!! It snowed. Of course it snowed. ;)
Ryan was so good to me and had the car all ready: gas tank filled, GPS loaded, speaking supplies packed. He got up early too, to make sure I didn't oversleep, made my coffee, and prayed for me before I left. I just love him so. He kept me well supplied with texts and pictures throughout the day, too!
I had to giggle, because the first thing that happened to me after I got on the road was a train delay. That happened to me on the regular at WillowBridge, but this was the first time I've been caught by one here. Then I ever-so-narrowly missed some deer that crossed the road in front of me. I adored seeing them, because you know my ridiculousness for deer, but I also adored that they did not injure my vehicle and I did not injure them!
My two-hour drive was blissfully uneventful. I didn't get sleepy, I didn't have trouble with slick roads, I didn't get stopped by accidents or construction...it was good, and I was grateful.
My GPS tried to take me right past the church, but I outsmarted it. :)
7 comments:
I'm so glad you had a safe drive and were able to avoid the deer. It sounds like it was a long, but good, day.
I'm glad you made it safe and sound and that no deers were harmed!
That room was beautiful and I'm glad you all gleaned Godly knowledge. :)
I hope you don't mind my long comment, but I was reading your last post and you wrote that at the IF Gathering, it was said that we are lonely people, because we've become accustomed to staying home and choosing movies over fellowship, that even when given an opportunity to interact with others, most of us will choose to stay home and that we're uncomfortable with the idea of having conversations, because they could get difficult and awkward, and we don't want that.
Well, I believe that is true, but I also know (because it happened to me many times and it still does) that many of us would love to have christian friends and a church to go to, but the christian women I know (both personally and online), aren't interest in sharing conversations or simply don't care.
A few years ago, when you were recently married, you wrote that you were feeling a bit down because Ryan wasn't able to spend Valentines day with you, because he had to work (it was a looonnng time ago, but I believe it was that!).
Many of us wrote you encouraging comments and I remember that my comment was that you were blessed, because you had a healthy, loving husband and that my husband was going through some rough times, due to kidney problems. And that when I saw your post, I cried because how I wish that the only problem I had for my husband not spending Valentines day with me, was his work.
Not because he was in the hospital or weak, because he had to do dialysis. I felt so lonely sometimes, because it seemed that nobody cared. And I feel the same today, after all these years.
In the meantime, he had a kidney transplant that lasted almost 5 years and he's back on dialysis, again. And although I know that God is with us, it's lonely, Bekah, because the christian women that maybe (just maybe) could spend 5 minutes of their time once a week, just to ask how I am doing or if I need something, are always to busy to do that. And the christian men that could spend 5 minutes of their time once a week, just to ask how my husband is doing or if he needs something, are always to busy to do that.
And telling someone that has a problem, that God will give you strenght, and that He will not abandon you is something that I already know. Or that we should be thankfull for everything (even problems), like I heard once...
So, maybe it isn't just us that have become accustomed to staying home and choosing movies over fellowship. Maybe, we also want the richness that can come into our lives from the people around us, as long as those people are there and not too busy living their lives.
Have a blessed week!
:)
Natasha - I was so happy the deer were safe! (And our car, too!)
Paula - I LOVE your comment today and am so glad you shared it. I should have said when I wrote Sunday's post, that I was actually surprised to hear Jennie say that so many purposely choose staying home over community, because that isn't what I would have guessed to be true. But the reaction from her live audience, coupled with the audience I was in affirmed it's more common than I even realized! That's why I shared it in my post...because I thought perhaps it might resonate with some reading.
Having said that, you are 100% correct, and THIS has been my own observation more than the choice to stay home. Whether a purposeful exclusion or merely an oblivious one, I do think many of us (and I'll include myself in that number, lest I think I'm more attentive than I really am) just fail. It was something that grieved my heart in the last couple of years, doing the work we did: it really was so all-consuming for me that I felt I wasn't able to be attentive to those around me outside of our building, and I hated it. That isn't who I am in my heart and it's not who I want to be in my daily life. It's one of my biggest prayers for this going-forward season...that I would see what's in front of me, that I would reach out, and that I would be the community for other women that they need and that I need, too!
I remember that time for you when your husband was so very sick and we were praying for his health! I commit to praying with you again now for him - and will also pray that the Lord will send someone from your community to you to truly come into your life in the way that you need. (Someone who won't just say the words you already know, but will show up in tangible, meaningful ways.)
Thank you, Bekah! :)
Prayers are always welcome, but sometimes a word from the heart or a hug are also welcomed and needed.
I've been praying for us to find a true Godly church to go to, but unlike the States, here in Portugal we don't have so many churches and the ones that exist, are mainly founded by Pastors that left their churches and as soon as they start, many of them close or change location.
Right now, I don't have christian friends near me, so when I read that you and so many christian women who's blogs I read, go for coffe dates or lunches with their friends, oh how I wish I could be there! Or that I would be able to do the same.
It's a precious gift, my friend, so please never take it for granted.
God bless you and Ryan and have a wonderful week!
:)
Glad you had a good day Saturday, despite the early wake-up call and snow! Yay for a sunny drive home! Hopefully, you can catch up on your rest!
So glad it was a positive and meaningful day for you!
Paula - While I do not take these blessings for granted, I also appreciate your insight to remind me that not everything looks the same around the world as it looks around here! I needed that perspective!
Odie - YES!! Sunday we took such a hard nap that I'm not sure we'd have heard ANYTHING. I slept through about a dozen texts. It was crazy.
Tamar - Thank you! It sure was!
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