If you have good taste in classic TV shows, you’ll recognize this gem:
The lyrics go like this:
“Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name
And they’re always glad you came
You wanna be where you can see our troubles are all the same
You wanna be where everybody knows your name”
It’s incredibly hard to walk away from that comfort. I am immensely favored and blessed. God has allowed me to be on staff at the most amazing, spiritual, relational, joyful, and beautiful church. On Thursdays we have the opportunity to come together and pray as a team. We get to set aside all of our tasks and stress for about half an hour and unite as a body of believers to lay our prayers before the Almighty Father. If I had to make a list of the top 10 things I’ll miss the most about home while I’m on the race you can be certain that this time of weekly prayer would be on there. Today while our senior pastor was praying he mentioned that we have been able to see how God has provided so much for us over the last few months. He thanked God for letting us be in the effort fighting in prayer for those we love. I grew overwhelmed with the love I have for the people that were surrounding me. A little puddle of tears collected on the table in front of me while I got to listen to the people around me pray to our Heavenly Father on one another’s behalf. Who in their right mind would willingly choose to leave this incredible environment?
In a few hours I will again be surrounded by an additional group of remarkable Christians for our weekly small group meeting. I know their voices by heart. They know mine. I enjoy how full my heart is whenever I get to spend time with them and I feel it reciprocated whenever they see me.
I’m going to admit it: I am afraid of entering an environment where people don’t know me… deeply and truly know me. I am now kicking myself for taking for granted these people who love me and are happy when I come around.
But there is Someone calling my name…
He’s calling me out onto the ledge. I know that I am supposed to jump off. And I am willing. I am ready. But as I am preparing to jump headfirst into the unknown I am in those few moments where fear meets excitement and everything seems to be moving in super slow-motion around me. It’s the calm before the storm, but I am following the voice calling my name because it’s the most comforting and sweetly assuring voice my ears have ever heard.
A friend and coworker of mine wrote a beautiful song entitled “Called My Name”
that assures my walk as I step out in faith:
(Thank you Joey for allowing me to use your song!)
