The pastor repeated the same sermons every year, the children’s program was evidently declining, and none of us felt like we had belonged. We had heard of many people who had started attending another church in our area. My parents decided to visit one Wednesday evening, the day after my birthday. It was Youth Group for me and kids club for my brother. I relentlessly tried to convince my parents that it was better to just stay home. You can’t argue with my parents though, no matter how hard you try. Once they had their minds made up, there was no turning back. I should have already learned that, but still I argued my case. “Why do we even have to go?” I asked. “Why can’t we just stay home and watch a TV preacher? We wouldn’t have to go out in the ICY weather of winter and we would save gas and money.” Not having to interact with people is an added bonus too. “It’ll be fine, you’ll see,” said my mother, smiling like a fool. “Just keep an open mind and be yourself! People will like you, I promise”. “Mom, this isn’t some corny Disney show where the kid just acts like himself and everyone automatically likes him. If anything, people will probably stare.” “I don’t know where you get these negative thoughts. You should keep a positive attitude going into this. You never know what God has planned for you.” “God must be taking his sweet, precious time,” I muttered under my breath. "It might seem unlikely to you, but God has your plan worked out. Tonight might just be a step in the right direction for you." It’s my personal theory that time flies when you’re waiting for something you’re dreading and stands still when you’re waiting for something with anticipation. My family and I strapped ourselves into our SUV and headed down the road. To me, the ride was the very definition of torment. In my mind, I pictured millions of scenarios where I was embarrassed by kids I didn’t know. The only greater fear I had that was greater than public humiliation was the fear of being ignored, not spoken to at all, and dejected. In no time at all we were pulling up to a large brick building. After circling the building several times, we finally parked at a handicap parking space, even though no one in our family is handicapped. The building was a faded, soft red and there was a church bell near the entrance that looked as if it had watched my grandparents grow up. There were noticeably many children and teenagers on their way inside. Many of the teenagers climbed the nearby stairs, chatting and laughing with their friends. Others sat on a railing, joking around with one another. Children ran into the building, eager to leave their parents behind to see their friends. Tired parents dropped their children off, relieved to have a night to themselves. Shouts rang out across the parking lot. “Goodbye Mommy!” “Did you see the new
The pastor repeated the same sermons every year, the children’s program was evidently declining, and none of us felt like we had belonged. We had heard of many people who had started attending another church in our area. My parents decided to visit one Wednesday evening, the day after my birthday. It was Youth Group for me and kids club for my brother. I relentlessly tried to convince my parents that it was better to just stay home. You can’t argue with my parents though, no matter how hard you try. Once they had their minds made up, there was no turning back. I should have already learned that, but still I argued my case. “Why do we even have to go?” I asked. “Why can’t we just stay home and watch a TV preacher? We wouldn’t have to go out in the ICY weather of winter and we would save gas and money.” Not having to interact with people is an added bonus too. “It’ll be fine, you’ll see,” said my mother, smiling like a fool. “Just keep an open mind and be yourself! People will like you, I promise”. “Mom, this isn’t some corny Disney show where the kid just acts like himself and everyone automatically likes him. If anything, people will probably stare.” “I don’t know where you get these negative thoughts. You should keep a positive attitude going into this. You never know what God has planned for you.” “God must be taking his sweet, precious time,” I muttered under my breath. "It might seem unlikely to you, but God has your plan worked out. Tonight might just be a step in the right direction for you." It’s my personal theory that time flies when you’re waiting for something you’re dreading and stands still when you’re waiting for something with anticipation. My family and I strapped ourselves into our SUV and headed down the road. To me, the ride was the very definition of torment. In my mind, I pictured millions of scenarios where I was embarrassed by kids I didn’t know. The only greater fear I had that was greater than public humiliation was the fear of being ignored, not spoken to at all, and dejected. In no time at all we were pulling up to a large brick building. After circling the building several times, we finally parked at a handicap parking space, even though no one in our family is handicapped. The building was a faded, soft red and there was a church bell near the entrance that looked as if it had watched my grandparents grow up. There were noticeably many children and teenagers on their way inside. Many of the teenagers climbed the nearby stairs, chatting and laughing with their friends. Others sat on a railing, joking around with one another. Children ran into the building, eager to leave their parents behind to see their friends. Tired parents dropped their children off, relieved to have a night to themselves. Shouts rang out across the parking lot. “Goodbye Mommy!” “Did you see the new