A New Beginning...

It's interesting to look back at your life and see how everything played out. When you make decisions at a very young age you are just beginning the process of the sowing and reaping of your decision making. There is usually a cost to every major decision that we make. At the time of any major decision there are different things that influence our thinking based on our life experience and more so on whether we lean on emotion or logic. Leaving West Virginia was very painful for me because it represented my first established freedom. It was the place that I established my dearest friends in life. It was where I found my bride for life. It was the scene of a great spiritual renewal in my life.

I left with a heavy heart but I also had the hope that Pastor Ron's church in Pittsburgh would be the necessary balm that I needed. Maybe I could learn how church was really supposed to work. I really didn't like what I saw in most of the churches in West Virginia. They were rigid and legalistic. There was little grace to be found. Without grace there is little joy because none of us can do everything right anyway. My original group was not about any of that. We were infatuated with our new life in Christ and we accepted each other unconditionally. It was the most unity that I have ever experienced in the body of Christ. To this day, I have a hard time relating to organized church life. I have seen things simaler to what I experienced back in Follansbee. I have seen unconditional friendships in the institutional church. I have seen many blessings in many places but I haven't seen the unity and power that existed in that little band of indians back in Follansbee.

Was it God's will that I move to Pittsburgh? I hate to say this but, "It really doesn't matter". We rarely are in tune with God when we make decisions at the age of 25. It's the freedom that He gives us to make our own journey that is so cool about God. There would be no mystery or adventure to life if we were made to be clicked and dragged around like a computer image. We have a very important part in all of this. It has taken me almost 60 years to understand that this is what is so magnificent about our God. He gave us the ability to empower and to write our own history. Yes "His Story" and "Our Story" can actually compliment each other and give Him great pleasure and give our life great meaning.

Here's a little morsel that I have learned: Our life in our own mind seems to be our own journey but in reality our life is meant be a journey back to God and then a journey with God. There are a lot of lonely people that die lonely and robbed of God's hope for their lives because they never pursued Him once.

My move to Pittsburgh was a new beginning to my life long journey and I can tell you this much for sure. The roads on our journey are rarely straight. This one seemed like a detour.

Next up....

Trailer Park..