Held

Is it strange that I still wake up most mornings thinking "Holy cow, I live in ENGLAND!" Blessed seems like such a small word to use to describe how I feel...but I can't think of anything else more appropriate, so yes. I am blessed to be here. Ministry in this culture is such a challenge, which has forced me to learn and grow. Through all the high and low points, I'm still determined that the single greatest feeling in the world is knowing that you're exactly where God wants you to be at that precise moment. I suppose knowing exactly what to do while you're there is the tricky part.

So now that I find myself steeped (no "tea" pun intended...well, maybe) in all sorts of diverse ministries, I've been quite thankful to of found a community of people my age that I can learn and grow alongside of. "Something Else" is the name of a small congregation of young adults that I meet with most Sunday nights. We meet in a small corner of the local Anglican church. I really need to take pictures of that place, because it is AMAZING. It's one of those church buildings that makes American jaws drop. It's just funny to think that people were holding potlucks in that place when George Washington was still in diapers!

I've made a lot of friends at Something Else, which has been imperative to the keeping of my sanity! It reminds me a lot of a service I attended while working at Christ's Church in Jacksonville (www.TheWellJax.com). The more diverse church services I attend in England helps to build the picture in my mind of the worldwide church. I've heard and read that our worship here is just practice for heaven...which is going to be crazy when you really think about it. My tiny, inexperienced brain tends to think that the biggest difference in churches is if they use PowerPoint or hymnals. What about worship in Haiti? Thailand? Poland? Kenya? Germany? China? What does THAT look like? What is it going to look like when it all comes together, and we truly worship as one in heaven? I can't wait to see the beautiful diversity of worship in heaven...our first true family celebration. Cool.

Wow, how did I get off onto that tangent? Back to "Something Else."

Of course I can't just GO to a church service without helping out in some way or another, so I've been roped in bit by bit to contribute. Most recently, I was given the task of putting together a video. I was handed the song "Held," by Natalie Grant. Wow. What a powerful song! And putting together a visual aid for the song ended up becoming an act of worship in itself. The song is about suffering, which I am not currently experiencing when compared to the rest of the world (come on, I live in ENGLAND! Can life get any better than this??) but I did identify with the need to be held.

By the way, it's the most bizarre thought to me when I think that I am a college graduate. I'm in my mid-twenties! Lots of my very best friends are getting married and having babies and starting careers...and that's supposed to be normal. I guess I'm supposed to be considered an "adult." Haha! You've got to be kidding me. I still feel like a little kid. I feel like my being in England is just a really awesome Summer camp. If I really sit and think about how I'm an adult with adult-like responsibilities, bills, taxes...and that I live in another COUNTRY...I think I might have an anxiety attack. So, I tend to try to not think about being an adult too often :)

Back to the song "Held," - - it really helped me to think about how going through difficult, challenging times in life are what bring us closer to God. Of course it's not fun to find yourself in the midst of suffering, but just knowing that you are being held by Christ through it all can be a priceless gift only found through the rough times. I think that's the biggest thing that separates Christians from those who choose not to accept Christ - we have hope. Everyone suffers. We live on earth, and we're human. Bad stuff is going to happen, no matter who you are or what you believe. But for those of us who are clothed with Christ, we have hope no matter what. It is silly to think that the "worst" thing that can happen to you on earth is death. Really? Seriously? That's the WORST? Satan is such a weenie.

I'll stop blabbering on and just let the song lyrics speak for themselves. Enjoy the video!


(For those of you not incredibly YouTube savvy, I suggest hitting the "Play" button, then pausing it once it starts to play. Wait for the grey line to fill up the play area, and then hit "Play" again. This helps the video to load completely before you start watching the video.)