Last Thursday, during the KidZone "thanks for serving this year" BBQ, everyone gathered around me to lay on hands for me to be prayed for as a kind of "sending out," in recognition of my upcoming time away in India with YWAM. On Friday I attended another BBQ, this time by my SIRVA friends from church (people who have gone on my church's annual mission trip to Mexico) and there was another time of laying on hands by the group and praying to send myself and three other girls out who are going on missions. Then on Sunday my small group went out for supper as a "sending out" for me as well.
Over the last ten years since college I have not had many ties. I have come and gone from a few places and never really felt like I belonged anywhere. I have been attending my church for 5 years and it has taken a long time but now I finally feel like I belong somewhere where there are people who care about me and will miss me when I'm gone and who are eager to hear about my experiences and will look forward to my return.
I have tended to be a loner in life and to shy away from affiliation. I have really identified with the character in the movie "Heat" who said "Don't get attached to anything in life that you can't walk out on in 30 seconds or less if you feel the heat coming around the corner." Relationships are work and can be messy and in the end you have to say goodbye. But my isolation has made for a lonely journey.
My experiences at my church and the activities connected with it over the last 5 years have helped me to both give and receive love, compassion and service. To enter into other people's lives and have them enter into mine. And to realize that people genuinely like me. These three times of being gathered around and having people lay hands on me and pray for me and just hang out with me have been so precious and have taught me the value of being connected with others, especially those in the faith. I know I will make many connections and friendships while I am in India but I do cherish the ones that I already have right here at home.
