Brilliant Church (Leaving Atlanta pt.2)

(read part 1 first)

As I spent more time involved in this church, a community which I had both actively and unconsciously avoided, I slowly began to see little bits of brilliance unfurl.

The first was my own transformation… well, perhaps that is a strong word, but definitely a change.  I had decided to own up to change, to step forward & activate this part of my life.  This can be seen in the letter of intent.  I became involved in investing back to others who were also new and volunteering for leadership opportunities.  Before I knew it, I had basically become one of those who I had previously scoffed at. 

The second and most dramatic change was the friendships that were forged; one in particular was with a pretty girl from Louisiana who would eventually become my wife.  That is a whole other story :)

But perhaps the most prolific impact the church experience has had on my faith did not directly have anything to do with me at all.  Since being involved in a church became important to me, I began to notice all of the amazing things happening amongst my peers.  Many of my examples are related to North Atlanta, but several also refer to others in other churches with other names and other Christian denominations. 

Such as…

So many people my age deciding to give up the American life and move somewhere else.  Happily, there are so many I won’t be able to remember them all.  A friend of mine (name excluded due to censorship concerns) is relocating his new family to the China / N. Korea border.  Katie J moved to Bolivia to be a teacher.  Chris & Sarah and their daughter live in Kenya and help run an orphanage & minister to the kids there. 

Jana moved to Beijing and it’s her daily objective simply to strike up conversations with the numerous locals about faith.  Apparently so many people there yearn for answers, but there are so few resources to show them the way.  Jana is now one of them.

Keller’s aunt & uncle Mark & Jamie Klee moved to Swaziland in Africa with their 3 kids.  Sold the nice house in Alpharetta and said adios.  Now, they run a cabinet shop, assist on a commercial farm, run a home for abandoned or orphaned babies, and are working on launching a local-made jewelry business.  Apparently they are about to run into a labor shortage from the local community and will be searching for additional help, in a country with one of the world’s highest unemployment rates.

This isn’t one of those guilty “sell all and move to Africa” type of missives (no offense Klees.)  For every crazy international story I’ve heard, I could tell a local one.  Live your life wherever you want, as long as it’s dedicated to God. 

I was touched during my years in Atlanta how many incredible people I met.  At one time or another I interacted personally with all of these people in Atlanta, whether it was at church, small group, a meal, or even playing kickball.  But Christians (and those listed above) will attribute all of the life changing stories to God.  All of the amazing accomplishments and lives touched by these people represent God interacting with our lives.  This is what Christians believe... this is one way to show love... this is one way show God.  

Whats the point of all of this writing.  The point is, I had gone from one extreme to the other.  A skeptic to a believer. 

Church wasn’t for me. actually… I belong here.

I’m not like them.  actually… I’m the same.

I’m too sophisticated/smart/cool.  actually… So are they. Maybe even smarter.

I can go my own way and be fine.  actually… I don’t want to do that anymore.  I want to be a part of a community because they are the ones actually going somewhere.

That’s my story.  We will miss Atlanta, but this city provided us with the push we needed - and the examples to follow.  Thank you.

Why I Went to Church (Leaving Atlanta pt.1)

When I moved to Atlanta I had to finally act on something that I had been putting off for a while.  I wanted to get back in to going to church regularly.  I had no personal friends or any frames of reference at the time of where to go.  So, naturally I went to Google.  The largest one that appeared to have people my age (20's, single) was North Atlanta Church of Christ.

In retrospect I don't know what my goals were.  For several weeks I went and sat in the balcony, enjoying the atmosphere.  I'd show up a little late so I could avoid talking to people, but then I found out that it became difficult to find a seat without climbing over people, so I started coming a little earlier.  (Apparently most people at NACC show up about 5 minutes after the start time; 5 minutes before it's half empty, 5 minutes after it's completely full.)  I felt pretty self-satisfied about the experience overall.  I had a routine where I could slide in and out with minimal interactions.  Afterwards I'd treat myself to a solo Sunday lunch and go home in good spirits.
 

That could only last for a matter of time though.  After a couple of months I started feeling comfortable and began to wonder about the other people there, especially my age.  I wasn't outgoing.  I was not a "church person."  I had little interest in walking up to a group of people and announcing that I was the new kid in town, like some people can do.  I had fooled my employer into thinking I was that kind of "Type A" personality so I could get a sales job in the big city, but I wasn't ready to put myself out there socially. 

I needed a push.  A sunday service passed and I decided on the spot I wasn't going to go out on a limb and look for people.  Apparently someone noticed.  I was sitting in my ultra-secure, secret balcony spot.  I'd been attending for about 2 months.  A single lady in her 50's sat next to me and took it upon herself to speak to me.  She told me that there was a large singles group at the church, pointed out where they sat, and gave me the room number of the class they met in after the service.  

Now I really didn't have an excuse.  But, if I didn't have that little push I probably would have continued to made excuses that would have delayed or stopped me from continuing down my path.  So, I'm thankful for her, whoever she was.  Ha. An angel? 

So, the next Sunday, I took the leap and waltzed into this singles class at the church.  It was awkward, but only because I didn't know anyone.  Before the class starts everyone kind of mills around, gets coffee, and has conversations.  A dude noticed I was just kind of standing around and spoke to me.  I told him I was new and he was nice enough to talk to me for a while.  I made a contact.  The next few weeks I would show back up, slowly getting to know others.  Eventually, I was invited to a small group that met Sunday nights and really became more than just a "visitor."  

As I began to get to know the people that were a part of this Young Adults group (as it is called) I started to realize I held some heavy pre-conceived notions and prejudices.  I had convinced myself that I would never really fit in at a church.  I assumed that the people who went were some other kind of breed of people who were different.  As in, maybe they somehow experienced some kind of sheltered, not-practical, not-normal life.  Like "they" were going to be too bland, boring, or simple, or some other adjective that I thought was not going mesh well with me.  As if I was so much more cultured, suave, exciting.  

It's funny that the popular saying is that people who go to church "think they are better than everyone else."  In my case it was the exact opposite.  I'm pretty sure I thought "I am better than them."

So wrong.  Once I began to get over that though, I finally started seeing things change.  
read part 2