God Calling
In January of 2002 I was begging God for community. I had graduated from college, and was living with my parents in rural NE Texas. During the Fall my mom and I had painted a 70 foot long mural together commissioned by another small town...and I had been getting jobs as an artist. I was trying to work my way out of debt before coming on staff. Although, after Christmas, I had no more jobs lined up...and I was lonely for friends.
An old friend and kindred spirit , came through town with her boyfriend of the time and they told me about an outdoor education center/camp that they were working at. They paid no rent, got health insurance, the pay was decent, and there was a fun group of post college singles who worked there. I joked and said if there were any openings to let me know.
A week later she called. Another girl was transfering and they had a job for me. I moved down with my sleeping bad and a six pack of Dr.Pepper and was ready to go.
This friend and I had met several years before at Camp Classen. We were both very young in our faith. She had recently started going to Campus Crusade for Christ at OU and I had just committed my life to Christ. We would become good friends in life and our journey of faith.
She, another friend from Camp Classen, and another girl were roomates at the O.E.C. when we were not in cabins with 5th graders.
The first night after I arrived I can remember catching up with my second friend...telling her of my life change since Christ and living in Russia, etc. She was not an evangelical Christian. She was a vegetarian and did yoga and can put everything she owns in her backpack. The new girl was also a vegetarian who had graduated from UT in something environmental. Nontheless we all became great friends....and truly spiritual friends.
The new girl and I began to pray(she initiated this) together often...even though she was not what we would consider a "believer" at the time. She had a relationahip with God...and was searching...and I believe, was in the process of deepening her relationship with God though questioning. She had a lot of issues with Christians, their ways, and their politics.
The new girl was in the process of becoming a disciple of Christ before she professed Him as Lord and surrendered to His Authority in her life. As we seek to "Turn Lost Students into Christ Centered Laborers", it is my desire that we "Make disciples in all nations, teaching them everything that He has taught us"...far before they make a profession of faith. Let us make disciples of Christ....and perhaps they will also become converts. (I have not finished reading Divine Conspiracy by Dallas Williard...but I have heard that he says something to this effect).
http://www.dwillard.org/books/DivConsp.asp
An old friend and kindred spirit , came through town with her boyfriend of the time and they told me about an outdoor education center/camp that they were working at. They paid no rent, got health insurance, the pay was decent, and there was a fun group of post college singles who worked there. I joked and said if there were any openings to let me know.
A week later she called. Another girl was transfering and they had a job for me. I moved down with my sleeping bad and a six pack of Dr.Pepper and was ready to go.
This friend and I had met several years before at Camp Classen. We were both very young in our faith. She had recently started going to Campus Crusade for Christ at OU and I had just committed my life to Christ. We would become good friends in life and our journey of faith.
She, another friend from Camp Classen, and another girl were roomates at the O.E.C. when we were not in cabins with 5th graders.
The first night after I arrived I can remember catching up with my second friend...telling her of my life change since Christ and living in Russia, etc. She was not an evangelical Christian. She was a vegetarian and did yoga and can put everything she owns in her backpack. The new girl was also a vegetarian who had graduated from UT in something environmental. Nontheless we all became great friends....and truly spiritual friends.
The new girl and I began to pray(she initiated this) together often...even though she was not what we would consider a "believer" at the time. She had a relationahip with God...and was searching...and I believe, was in the process of deepening her relationship with God though questioning. She had a lot of issues with Christians, their ways, and their politics.
The new girl was in the process of becoming a disciple of Christ before she professed Him as Lord and surrendered to His Authority in her life. As we seek to "Turn Lost Students into Christ Centered Laborers", it is my desire that we "Make disciples in all nations, teaching them everything that He has taught us"...far before they make a profession of faith. Let us make disciples of Christ....and perhaps they will also become converts. (I have not finished reading Divine Conspiracy by Dallas Williard...but I have heard that he says something to this effect).
http://www.dwillard.org/books/DivConsp.asp
posted by Melinda at
8:20 PM
2 Comments:
Wow, it's a work of art. You should have a doctorate in this by now. It's fun to see all the learning over years compiled. Well documented, well said. I haven't read it all, but am inspired to do something similar with my own life and learning. keep it up. More later.
Isn't it amazing how life unfolds? And how finely connected everything is? For example, consider how you and I met. While you were wandering around in Texas, I was wandering around the east coast. I eventually ended up in Wisconsin (not my first choice at the time), where I just happen to meet Maria, who just happened to also choose to move to Wisconsin. And how did you know Maria? Well, she was someone you just happened to meet at a job you just happened to get because you just happened to (jokingly) ask Marti about any positions--and a position just happened to materialize.
My point isn't to argue whether or not we were fated (or predestined) to ever meet... It's to say that so much of our personal history, and consequently identity, is so intertwined with our relationships; and that fact is not so easily appreciated until you step back and look at the intricate tapestry of relationships.
Some people (Maria, for instance) recognize and appreciate these inter-connections very easily. I, on the other hand, see them less quickly: but once I stopped and thought about it... it was impressive.
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