Saying "So Long" to the South!

As many of you know, I have moved out of Tennessee! The last month has been a whirlwind of events, phone calls, writing, paperwork, travel, and learning! I now find myself dwelling in the bowels of the Midwest (a.k.a Kansas City, MO). What would make me move half way across the country on such a short notice you ask?

Well that is a bit of a loaded answer...

In March of this year I received an email from my professor at Bryan College informing me of an open position, as well as future plans to hire in May and August, at this place called Shelterwood. For over a year I had been living in Knoxville seeking God and wrestling through my passions and desires; trying to come to a final conclusion as what vocation I wanted to pursue. That's an overly simplified description of my reasons for being in Knoxville, but that would be the general overview. In the midst of my wrestling, receiving this email was a bit of unexpected event. I prayed about it, but kept shying away from pursuing the job due to uncertainty and self-questioning.

After wrestling through these things and continually being brought back to Shelterwood, I sat down with a dear friend of mine and shared my heart with him on the matter. Afterwards he gave me the words I needed to be able to move forward with my desire to apply: encouragement. I applied, and now I'm in Missouri!

Here is a video I took while driving up!

So why Shelterwood? Shelterwood is a therapeutic boarding school for teens experiencing all sorts of life struggles. Me? I'm a Big Brother/Direct Care Staff. My job is do life with them, get to know them, love them, protect them, hear their voices, and to share in their deepest pains and greatest joys! Easy? Heeeeckk no! but this is what I have chosen. It called to me, pulled at the deepest places of my soul and demanded my attention for months. This job is more than just a job. It is pushing me far outside the realms of comfort and ease; it is the place that God has drawn me to and has already had a significant affect on me as an individual! In just one week I've already seen God do some amazing thing in me, the kids, and the other "Bigs".

It has been difficult to give up my favorite coffee shops and hang outs, to leave my closest friends behind, and to take such a huge leap of faith into the void of uncertainty, but I know that I am where I belong and that after my year-long contract has ended that I'll be a completely different person and that God is going to make me even more into the man He designed me to be.

So here is to year of learning, purging, and growing. To learning the depth of love, grace, charity, and community.

Grace and Peace,

Stephen

Divine Encounters

Recently I found myself on the doorsteps of a beautiful church which I had gone to for the purpose of participate in a mid-day Eucharist service, but sadly I found the doors were all locked. I found, however, that there were a few men sitting out on the steps by themselves talking. I had stumbled across an impromptu  AA meeting, and before I knew it I had been asked to stay and listen. I was soon sitting on the ground listening to these men's stories, their struggles and experiences. It was a beautiful encounter that I would not have been able to experience if I had not gone and found the doors locked.

I had never participated in an AA meeting, primarily because I could not been deemed an alcoholic by any stretch of the imagination, but also because I never have actively sought out such things. In some way I see this as a tragedy on my part. I do not struggle. but there are those out there that do and need support. Perhaps it is best that a non-alcoholic not try to step in and "fix" those who are, but then again, is it otherwise merely the blind leading the blind?

I am forced to ask myself, can true accountability be held between two people who struggle with the same issue? I believe so. I saw this as true in the human beings that I encountered today. Young men often hold each other accountable (with moderate success) in the matters of sexual sin and addictions, so it is also helpful here. Though I would imagine that having someone who didn't struggle in the exact same way would be somewhat helpful, so long as the addict can see the non-addict for who they are and not see them as Pharisaic or Pietistic Overlords.

Photo taken from the AA websie:http://www.aa.org/pics_site/noflash_people.gif

I think that the important factor to remember is that they are human beings, regardless of addiction or abuse. We continually come across people throughout the week who are in need, some who recognize their problems and some who don't, and we have the amazing opportunity to be human with them; to be present in their lives. Should we not being seek opportunities to help others and to show others the Light of the Kingdom of Christ,the Light that gives liberty and freedom from addictions and to self-destructive philosophies? We need to stop talking about the world needing help and healing and start helping and seeking to heal. I pray that, as we grow in our faith, we might begin see these divine encounters that present themselves to us on a weekly (and sometimes daily) basis. For "life is short and there is but little time to gladden the hearts of those who travel with us. So let us be swift to love and make haste to be kind."

I would encourage you to look around at the people in your own communities, whether work, church, etc and look for ways that you can be a light in the midst of their darkness for the sake of the Kingdom and for the sake of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Peace be with you,

Stephen