After our arrival on Friday evening, dinner that night, and our many events on Saturday, I began to realize the meaning of this trip. Then the true reality hit me when we arrived at Church for the early service, knowing we were going to be staying through until the end of the baptismal service as well, and faces from the past began to appear. Not just in the form of those in the sanctuary, but in my mind as well. As I listened to the message of the morning sermon, I was taken to a time when I was so unsure of my calling in life that I wanted to leave Aurora University and just go home. These people saved me. They showed me love and compassion, and allowed me to receive guidance from being a witness to their works and their own trials.
As Kenny spoke about our "calling" in life, I started to think back to my goals and dreams. I have always wanted to be a teacher, and I have always felt called to be in the classroom. As I have contemplated over the past few months taking a step back and finding something else to do, this sermon struck a cord. I do not want to do anything else. I am doing what I am supposed to be doing, and today I do it as my true self. I am 100% me in all that I do, and that is what we are "called" to do.
GOD "calls" each of us to be ourselves and use our gifts to help others. As I listened to the message, I realized that I strive daily to answer the "call", to serve as I am able, and to do so AS MYSELF!! So often I am ridiculed, scoffed at, and even talked about, but it is all because I am a being myself in EVERY aspect of my life. It too me years to step out of the shadows, mainly for fear of rejection by those i cared most deeply about. As I have been back to Aurora over the past couple of years, I have found I had no reason to worry. These people have accepted ME and continue to accept ME, and most recently they accept US into their "home". Rick and I have been honored to be able to attend services at the Aurora Advent Christian Church when we are in town, because we are accepted, loved, and truly blessed when we worship there.
I have searched for a while now to find a place to be who I am completely and still worship the Lord and Savior. I have found that place in Aurora, and WE are comfortable there. My heart sang loudly during worship times this Sunday as I heard Rick singing beside me, worshipping with me, and praising GOD for all he does. Our GOD is an awesome GOD, he is not a vindictive GOD of hate and damnation. He is loving, and forgiving, and ACCEPTING. Just as GOD is all these things, the wonderful congregation in Aurora is too. They know no prejudice toward anyone. They accept all who come to worship, and they praise GOD for their presence with them.
As the baptismal service proceeded, I was touched by each and every testimony, from the youngest (my 8year old bug-nugget) to the wisest. Testimonies written for Kenny to read, and the most eloquent and heartfelt testimony read by one baptism candidate them self. As these testimonies were shared, I felt my heart rise with the spirit of love in the room. I remembered my own baptism, in the YMCA pool, all those years ago and my spirit was renewed, my faith restored, that with all that is gong on in this nation, here is a place that you can go, A CHURCH, where you feel no judgment, you feel no shame, you feel no prejudice, you only feel the LOVE and ACCEPTANCE that the LORD desires of his church.
I hope to find a "home" church soon, as making the trip to Aurora every Sunday might be a bit of a stretch. Until then, I challenge everyone to remember your own Baptismal Sunday. How did you feel that day? Think about what we are all "called" to do. Not what your specific "calling" might be, but that we are all called to be ourselves and honestly love and care for our neighbors. Decide how you will use your gifts for the purpose of serving GOD by helping others, by being yourself.
GOD BLESS
