First of all… I am full of carrot cupcakes.
(Thank you Kathy Powers and staff and Preston for my birthday cupcakes!)
But what I really mean is…. My heart is full.
From driving up and seeing the big “Welcome”
sign out in front of my new church, to the hundreds of hours being put in to renovate the parsonage, to the
smiles of the staff and the “Hey, I know you!” hollered at me from one of the
children in the daycare... these first few weeks at Aurora United Methodist Church have been totally
amazing… waaaaay beyond any hopes or expectations. The church has been so gracious and
welcoming. I already see them making some
changes that will promote spiritual and emotional growth in our church family…
primarily by including the children and youth more. I appreciate how they are being open to change
and creativity and “NEW”. All of this
gives me hope. It gives me hope for our
time together, and it gives me hope for Aurora UMC, and it gives me hope for
Algiers. I want nothing more from my
time at Aurora UMC than to use my gifts and talents to help the church turn a corner
toward health and wholeness (spiritually, physically and emotionally) in our
lives as individuals and as a church.
So, the welcome, hospitality and openness to me are so encouraging, and
fill me up.
I am also full of gratefulness to God. …
because it is almost like God is putting on an Epcot Fireworks display in my
life… you know the one… that last 15 minutes of absolutely everything they’ve
got in the warehouse and every SINGLE laser and Disney character and music
perfectly timed to the choreographed explosions. I’ve got this great new church, with all
KINDS of promise… a lovely, committed, hard-working staff... my son is pursuing his dreams in a school that could not be
more perfect for him… I am raising the little girl that I’ve always dreamt of
(SOOOO COOL… still wondering about the timing, as I turn 54, but God’s timing
is perfect!)… I live in New Orleans… God is helping me improve my health day by
day (so, no more cupcakes for a while!)… my relationships with my family are
all great… I am finally discovering my biological family and meeting them and
feeling soooooo grounded and complete and, well, full. Full of love… full of gratefulness… full of
humble disbelief… full of laughter and joy… full of hope. It is good.
God is good! So I say:
I.
am. full. I hope you and yours are too! If not… let’s work on that!
