How Did I Get Here?

Have you ever stopped and wondered: how did I get here?

I found myself wondering that all afternoon as I walked around North Greenville University with the Vice President of Denominational Relations last Thursday. I’ve wondered it before as I’ve talked with National WMU staff members and presidents, spoken with denominational heads, met with presidents of universities, laughed with missionaries, worked with state WMU staffs, and driven all over both North and South Carolina to meet with pastors and lay persons who desire to serve God with their lives and to know God more. Sometimes I feel a little out of place in my own life…

Thursday was the first day of school for many of my teacher friends from home. A few years ago, it would have been my first day with students as well…and I probably would have spent the day helping kindergarten students know how to hold a lunch tray and walk in line and do those other school tasks that we quickly take for granted. Eventually, I would have started teaching classes—assigning seats so that I could remember names—and teaching kids about music—stretching their hearts and minds.

Despite the challenges of working in the public schools, I loved my job. I loved the kids. And I loved the colleagues that I worked with. I loved watching my students grow from kindergarten to 5th grade and I loved having students run up to me in Wal-mart and give me a hug. It’s as if I were a celebrity…and it was kind of neat…especially since I truly loved my students and believed the best about them—even when no one else did.

After eight years in one school, working side by side with my art teacher who became one of my dearest friends—we were like two peas in a pod—where one went, the other went—so much so that some teachers never learned to tell us part—it was hard to leave what I had finally accepted as my mission field. It was hard to leave the public schools that I believe are the foundation to our future—the place where I believe those who follow in the way of God’s love can impact countless lives through the light and freedom that our lives can exhibit. We may not be able to openly share our faith, but we can live with a sense of integrity and respect that opens dialogue and demonstrates a peace that this world can not offer.

Yet…God called me away from the diversity of the public schools and into the not-so-diverse land of Presidents and Vice Presidents and Executive Directors and Pastors that sometimes makes me look around and question how did I get here? Do I even belong?

And then the quiet answer comes that…yes I do belong. I do have a place. I do have a call. I do have a purpose. I can hold my own with the Vice President of NGU (who, by the way, is SUPER nice and welcoming).

And then I smile in wonder and realize just how blessed I am. And I say a little prayer of thanksgiving for all of the people who have brought me here—especially my family and teacher friends today—and then I sit down and write (and find a bug at the bottom of my afternoon cup of coffee.)