Thankquet
Thursday, July 15, 2010 at 12:02AM As I've mentioned in a previous post, this last year was hard on us as a family. Long story short, I took a one-year appointment as a faculty member and applied for a permanent faculty position. I left a secure well-paying job for an unsecure, lower paying position. I did it because, to the best we could tell, it was what the Lord was leading us to do (through praying and seeking the counsel of saints around us).
The next several months are hard to describe. On the one hand, I loved everything about my job. On the other hand, things were not looking good at all on the job front. We had no idea what to do. We had no idea what this meant, and we had to face the possibility that God was leading us away from this community we love so much.
The experience was humiliating, embarrassing, stressful, and drawn-out.
It was crucifying.
So what did our fellow freaks do? Did they rebuke us for making such a stupid decision? Did they tell us that things would have worked out if we had just had more faith? Did they tell us "good luck with that"?
No.
They loved us. They carried us. They prayed for us. They encouraged us. They listened. They mourned. They questioned. They continued to believe in our Living God even when we wavered in such belief.
Words on a screen simply will not suffice to describe both the pain or the comfort.
Well, I got the job. It was a miracle. As an internal candidate, I got to see firsthand God work through all odds to do the impossible. I still do not fully understand it, but Amanda rightly said that we had to celebrate. We had to do something to thank our Living God and the Body of Jesus.
So we had a Thankquet - a banquet of thankfulness.
Approximately 70 people were at our house (roughly 40 adults and 30 kids). We had a feast and rejoiced together over God's goodness to His people and through His people.
But the best part was a little unexpected. My parents came (they are not believers; they are Hindus). Not only did they come, but they decided to speak to the group during some short remarks.
My dad, with tears streaming down his eyes, shared his pride in his son. My mom, thanked those who were with us and said "Praise God" probably three times in her speech. I have heard it said that the church should be the evangelist. In other words, authentic churchlife should be so powerful that people see Jesus and come to know Him (without individuals feeling pressured to "convert" everyone they run into). The church has been Salt and Light to my parents, and I can see God working in them.
After my parents spoke, Amanda thanked the church for carrying me through some of my lowest moments. And I, tears also streaming, thanked the saints for sustaining my wife (which I believe helped her to sustain me).
I said that this was God's victory for all of us, and that I would do everything possible to never take this community of believers for granted.
And I meant it.
Reader Comments (1)
As usual, I laughed, I cried, and I thanked God for what He's doing in your midst. Love the pictures too.