Lessons Learned

Beginning in middle school I had the great honor of having a best friend . . . you know, one of those friends that you have all your classes with, you can tell everything to, you stay on the phone for hours, they cover for you when needed . . . that kind of best friend.

We were inseparable, except for one thing. Church.

I was quite the little devout church goer. Every Sunday at least 7 hours then again on Wednesday nights for 3 hours or so . . . and usually at least one night per weekend was a youth function. I was quite impressed with myself in my relationship with God.

One day, while in high school, my friend and I were discussing some pretty heavy life issues. One of our classmates had died unexpectedly that summer and for teenagers, that was a tough reality to face. Things were tough at best . . . and we were struggling with faith.

I would say that was the summer that I finally "got" faith.

You see, all my life I had believed that faith came with black and white answers. And these answers were found in one interpretation of the scriptures (and also in these little 4x6 booklets we used to pass out door to door - may I mention that folks LOVED that!) These answers were never to be challenged or doubted, only taken as absolutes and then shared with all people. But this time - faith needed to be real and it needed to be understood.

As my friend and I were talking (She was QUITE brilliant by the way) she pointed out to me that I did a lot of TALKING about my faith but she never saw me DO anything with it. Could I please "DO" something with it and provide some answers. Could I help explain how God, faith, and peace were real in the face of such a tragedy.

In my spiritual arrogance I argued back that I did have the answers. I did the best with the rehearsed and "pad" answers I had learned throughout my years of "training school" on Sunday nights. Those answers fell hollow in the midst of a situation that was very real. I'll never forget that helpless feeling that afternoon.

You know, I certainly didn't have the answers that day, although I tried really hard to scour my pamphlets to find one! The answer I did walk away with, after much prayer, counsel with my youth pastor, and my friend, was that faith - it's a journey. It isn't a "black and white" issue . . . and little tracks and number of hours logged in a church don't "win" prominence on some kind of religion totem pole.

What it does win is an opportunity to seek and question, knowing that one is not alone and something much bigger and stronger is out there pulling and tugging at us, if we will just be still enough to listen and follow.

On that day 20 years ago I NEVER would have imagined that I would be the pastor of a church that was starting it's very own journey. (First of all - I thought it was sheer BLASPHEMY that a woman would EVER be a pastor/preacher) but . . .

This morning we celebrated being a people on a journey of faith and I have the true joy of serving as a pastor. We are going to be a people that are seeking, looking, listening, and serving as we go day by day on this trip of life together. It's going to be cool to see what ends up happening with the West Campus of WCUMC. There certainly was a great energy and joy in the room as we "owned" that we don't have to know it all but can try to figure it out together. I'm SO GRATEFUL I had a best friend willing to push me on the points that mattered and make me look deeper to claim my faith and make it mine. I believe that was the start of a journey that put me here today!

I believe God is smiling upon a new faith community that is taking "root" in the Lake Norman/Hwy 150 area and it is a true honor to be a part of the journey!

Thanks for the prayers for Williamson's West and Brawley Campus. Looking forward to next Sunday!


NOW - the rest of the lessons learned:
1. Those mics that go around your ear - if you wear earrings that are dangly, there is almost ALWAYS some kind of interference.

2. When you go to CVS Drugstore to get some writing utensils prior to the service and you are a LITTLE nervous b/c you have never launched a church before, REMEMBER to take your car keys BACK to the car so the CVS cashier doesn't have to come RUNNING out to see if the green rubber keyring that said "P4W" (Pray 4 West) is yours!

3. If you get nervous at BIG things and your mouth tends to go dry, when you are having your "first" worship service in your new faith community KNOW that you MIGHT want to have some water!!!

4. DO NOT say to people after worship, "I had to get rid of that Bible!"
There was no table, stand, pulpit - ANYTHING up on that stage to lay my Bible and I talk w/ my hands - so I needed to put it down and I couldn't find anything. BUT I need to keep my mouth shut in regard to HOW I communicate that!

5. Do not try to run with a 6 ft table while you are wearing 2 inch heels and then hide behind it in broad daylight. 6 feet tables are not easily hidden!

6. AND THE MOST IMPORTANT LESSON . . . THINK before SPEAKING !!!!! Else NERVES will make you say INTERESTING things to people!