After breakfast, we headed off to a church called Awake in Winston-Salem (about 40 mins away). It’s a really lovely little congregation that meets in the gymnasium of a school. We had a really wonderful time of worship. And then a sermon on fear... or rather, on not letting fear hinder and cripple us. I really enjoyed that, because it reminded me of the few crazy whirlwind weeks leading up to coming to NC... I don’t think I’ve ever experienced such mad attacks of fear and insecurity; so intensely, in such a small period of time. Every possible fear that could attack went for it: What if I get lost on my way there? What if no one likes me once I’m there? What if it’s nothing like I think it’ll be? What if this is a stupid decision I’m making, taking this time out? Just voice after voice after voice. Deep down I knew they were lies though, because I knew it was right that I come here; but it’s tough to stand up to that rubbish sometimes! And it’s those fears that try to keep us back from what we’re supposed to be doing. Fear cripples us and tries to silence us. But God’s love for us is waaaay stronger and truer than those fears! We need to allow His love for us to crush every fear. Imagine if I had given in to one of those fears, and not come?! I don’t even want to imagine that!
We came home for lunch. Every meal here is just so beautiful, because we’re eating with family. Every meal is a chance to connect, a chance to hear someone’s story, find out about their life, share in their journey. And (I’m learning) to allow them to share mine. This ‘being vulnerable’ thing is still new for me, and I’ve learnt even MORE about it in the last few days! After lunch I hung out in the music room with a guy called Cameron who is CRAZY talented! He plays amazing stuff on the guitar, and at the same time he’s got a tambourine going (with one foot) and a kick drum (with the other) AND a harmonica on a holder round his neck. He’s like the one-man-band guy from Mary Poppins! A girl called Jordan joined us to (on the piano) and we had a great time hearing music from each other, joining in, coming up with some cool stuff. It’s such an incredible thing connecting with all these amazing people who just have so much of a similar heart. I’ve never experienced anything quite like this! This is what it means to be in community; to pursue God (and the passions He has given us) together. After supper I joined another group of musicians playing their stuff. Just RIDICULOUS talent and beauty everywhere you look! Heard a song that’s still stuck in my head, called “Goliath”. It’s about David facing up to Goliath, and defeating him because God’s reality was bigger than the reality of Goliath’s size. I’m going to try get a rough recording of it so that I can play it to everyone when I get back! It’s been in my head all day!
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