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Now that we are members I think, what is my place in this congregation? This is the scary part. I took a spiritual gift quiz and got 18 questions in and think, "this isn't helping" First off I was part of a church for 11 years and it took me years to feel comfortable around "some" of the people. And there were things I either volunteered for or was asked (pushed) to participate in. I often left those experiences with a feeling of "that didn't go anywhere" or "i didn't fit in" or "nobody listens to me" I realize though that I have too high of expectations from people.
Then I am so socially shy that I have retreated to telling people I can't participate because I have SAD (social anxiety disorder). My friend claims that isn't true. I attended a women's Christian retreat with her (with great angst to myself). She contends that I blended in and talked so easily with the other women. And I felt like it came pretty easy. Except for the time I had to speak in front of a room full of people! And of the women I thought I bonded with only one of them tried to stay in contact after I reached out to all of them.
As a youth, I sang in church, I was a youth leader, I was in plays, I spoke in front of the church, but it was a congregation of about 30-50. And I had mostly friends, and family members around me.
I feel there are people in churches that enjoy getting involved. Those who love to organize events and those who love to teach. I am not one of those people. I want to be a pew warmer. So that brings me back to why join a church if you don't plan on participating?
I don't like church dinners, or gettogethers. I only like getting together with individuals. I feel most comfortable being around one or two people. I have the same friends since grade and middle school. I have made some new friends over the years, I suppose. Some of which are older people, like my friend Lola. And when I did hair, I enjoyed talking to my clients for the most part.
I did get to a place in my life where it was harder and harder for me to face the public. I wanted to stay at home and never be around another person (non-family/close friend) again. So I ask God, "what can someone as socially awkward as I do for you?" and he brought me to a couple of online groups. There I could share and sympathize with the members. They helped me through a pretty rough time and I "hope" I helped them.
A few years back I felt compelled to work with foster children so I inquired about CASA. but when it came around to class time I wasn't feeling good physically or emotionally. And now I've offered to help with an organization that helps unwed mothers. It was a out of my comfort zone for me to make that offer. I will see how it goes when that class begins in April.
I think of Moses in the Bible. He didn't like to speak in front of others, so God gave him Aaron. And I hope somehow God is using me. I know God is suppose to give us all gifts and I feel a little self conscious looking for my "strengths" or saying "I have the gift of..." I just will trust He has a plan and it will fit in with whatever gifts I might have?
I did have something happen to me in church today that made me think that maybe God was using me. I often think of people I know who need prayer through out my day. Today it was during church. So as I was praying to myself for this person, I prayed "God, I don't know why they need prayer" Almost immediately the pastor said something similar to "sometimes we don't know what to pray for, but God knows" I felt like maybe God did recognize my prayers and was using me, even if it were just to pray for someone. And saying "just to pray" is inaccurate because prayer, I believe is the Christian's greatest tool in this world!
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