(I am anything but secretive, but many people are unaware that I lived a whole other life many years ago. I have always been open and honest about it, but rarely find an occasion to discuss it, unless someone asks me about it or I want to give guidance. I couldnt write this, though, without a little insight.) ~~~~~~~~~~~ Feeling nostalgic today, as I often do during deer hunting season, while leaving my little church out in the sticks, I was remembering another even littler church out in the sticks from many years ago!! Twenty three years ago, but my heart still feels it!! In a relationship of 5 years, but a relationship borne out of sin, betrayal, and a lack of boundaries which resulted in total chaos most all of the time. Completely deserted by all of the men in my orbit, who gathered in the woods for two weeks no matter what. Some of them using every day of their vacation, others quitting their jobs entirely, no matter the consequences. I couldnt count the number of wives/girlfriends I opened my home to when the food ran out, the utilities were shut off, an eviction notice came. The babies needed diapers, they needed food, they needed a place to stay. That year, I was a new Momma of a three week old. Exhausted, unnerved, recovering from an emergency C-section, and suffering from, what I know now, was depression...although at the time, I thought I was losing my everlovin mind!! I needed something that Sunday morning, but I wasnt sure what it was. I am not sure I even thought it through, but I got dressed and got my baby dressed and took off. I had met a wonderful woman named Lexie Caler a few years before and she had invited me to her church many times, but I had always resisted. That morning as I was driving, I wound up in the town of Elkins and I knew I had to find that church. I didnt know where it was, but I knew the Round Mountain community was where it was located, so I took off up the mountain. I didnt find the church, but somehow, I found Lexies house and she had me follow her and her husband. It was a little country church, just like in a postcard!! A real one, though, with peeling paint and a few gaps in the boards. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen!! Before I got out of the car, there were people clamoring for the carseat, barely getting him inside before they had him unstrapped and started passing him around!! I never got my hands on him again the whole time I was there. :) They made beautiful music with an old pi-anny and everyone singing at the top of their lungs. They gathered around me and laid their hands on me and prayed for me. Prayed for God to send helpers to me (which He did), for calmness and strength to come over me. They had lunch there...plenty to share!! Fried foods and comforting soups. Talking and laughter and hugs. I left there a much different person because of these people...although it would be several more years before that change would become outwardly noticeable, the seed was planted that very day, at that very time, at that little sway-backed church out in the sticks. I didnt have the money to drive out that far on a regular basis but I did visit a few more times. Every time, I was met with that same exuberance and made to feel like I was the most special person in the world!! But, although I havent seen any of them in the many years it has been since I moved back to Oklahoma, I will never forget that day as long as I live!!
Posted on: Sun, 05 Oct 2014 20:02:56 +0000
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