Alan, Love, Faith

It has been quite the week. After I posted last week, I found out that a friend and fellow Dynamos steering committee member Alan had gotten in a motorcycle accident on the way home from Jacksonville. As the week progressed, his condition worsened greatly. He's still hanging on right now, but the prognosis is grim. It's strange to see someone you love--even someone you've had little contact with--go from happy golucky to bed-ridden comatose in less than a few hours. It's all surreal, and it really makes me appreciate more and more the little interactions I have throughout the day. The people I meet and the conversations I have... They're all there for a reason.

As sad as it has been to hear of Alan's illness, it has also come with many lessons for me personally. I've been able to see the strength of a good Christian community--everyone has been constantly praying, not only for Alan, but for his family, and the rest of the community that knew and loved him. I have seen the power that exists within our community, a power that I know comes only from God. I have seen the love we have for each other, a love that comes only from God. We have stuck together, and I have no doubt we are a closer community because of it, and I have no doubt we will continue to stick together.

Faith. It's a funny word. Five letters that when put together mean so much to so many people. We have faith in God's will, in God's promises, and in God's love. And it's strange, the abudance of faith God has given me at this time. We talked last night at GforaG about how if you want more patience, God doesn't just give it to you, He gives you opportunities to be patient. I think that's happened so much with me this past year, and especially this past week. God's given me so many opportunities to have faith, and I've slowly but surely learned to take those opportunities. My God is a good God. I have faith in Him. Faith that it will all work out. I know it's a faith he has blessed me with.

"Christianity is about loving people as they are, and bringing Jesus to them as He is."