My girlie stands in front of me, her arms wrapped up and entwined in mine. The drums pound, the guitars strum and as she breathes in to sing the next chorus her whole little body lifts as she sucks in the air she will need to really belt it out. She's reading the words (kind of), but really, she is feeling the rhythm. She eventually closes her big blue eyes and just sways, her body carrying me along for the ride. The chorus comes up again- this part she knows deep down in her soul and again she breathes in and sings it out loud. My voice blends together with hers and with our community of friends. She stretches her hands up high, like so many others around her. She is content.
She senses the beauty of this community- a diverse group of people. We know many of the people up on the stage leading us. We know the story of our friend who is finally pregnant after miscarriages. We know the story of the mom whose daughter requires her full time care for her special needs. We know the daughter whose mother just fought- and beat!- cancer this year. Looking at the aisles nearby, we enjoy the company of newlyweds and those whose marriages are aching. We know a van full of friends from the homeless shelter come and sit near those who drive over in their fancy cars from Hillsborogh. In this "family" age, ethnicity, power and prestige are not our focus- our eyes are turned to our Father; we stand around the "table" of worship like a family about to feast on a Thanksgiving meal!
Each person bring his/her story with them into the church, and we come together as one big family - with the very breath that God gave us being used to worship His name together. This year she made her own decision in her own faith journey to trust and follow Jesus. She made the decision to get baptized- all because she says she wants the world to know that she is loved by Jesus and loves Him back with all her heart. And that is a beautiful thing to witness. My prayers that began more than 7 years ago, being answered! May she always be a worshiper- lifting up her voice and her heart with all her strength until her dying day.
She senses the beauty of this community- a diverse group of people. We know many of the people up on the stage leading us. We know the story of our friend who is finally pregnant after miscarriages. We know the story of the mom whose daughter requires her full time care for her special needs. We know the daughter whose mother just fought- and beat!- cancer this year. Looking at the aisles nearby, we enjoy the company of newlyweds and those whose marriages are aching. We know a van full of friends from the homeless shelter come and sit near those who drive over in their fancy cars from Hillsborogh. In this "family" age, ethnicity, power and prestige are not our focus- our eyes are turned to our Father; we stand around the "table" of worship like a family about to feast on a Thanksgiving meal!
Each person bring his/her story with them into the church, and we come together as one big family - with the very breath that God gave us being used to worship His name together. This year she made her own decision in her own faith journey to trust and follow Jesus. She made the decision to get baptized- all because she says she wants the world to know that she is loved by Jesus and loves Him back with all her heart. And that is a beautiful thing to witness. My prayers that began more than 7 years ago, being answered! May she always be a worshiper- lifting up her voice and her heart with all her strength until her dying day.