Embracing the Burden

 

While there are

plenty of things

I don't like about the amazing

advances in technology

and our increased

ability to communicate,

I take full advantage

of the beauty

of those advances

too.

Every morning
I spend an hour or so
listening and learning
from messages
posted online
by a variety of churches.

One of them is
North Point Church
in Atlanta
where Andy Stanley is pastor.

It took me a while
to find my place
as a student of
Andy's teaching
but I'm there now.

This is a favorite thought
which recently
resonated with me
in a powerful way.

One of these days
when the time is right
and my puzzle pieces are fitted
just a wee bit tighter
corners secure,
I'll tell you about the burden on my heart.
Not today. 

Today,
let me tell you how
an Iowa girl
came to listen and learn
with the congregation of
North Point Church
in Atlanta, Georgia.

My dearest, sweet

and much-adored mentor

Judy W

used to say to me

in her slight Southern drawl

"Meggie,

if you love Dr. Charles Stanley

you absolutely MUST

listen to his son, Andy."

 

First thing:

No, my name isn't Meggie.

She called me that

because she thought

(don't choke here, I have no clue why)

I looked like Meg Ryan

the first time we met

when taking a shared class

on the University of Denver campus.

(Sorry Judy. Not even in dim light on a cloudy day.
I blurred sweet Meggie up a bit and hid behind a weed, too.
Nope. No resemblance, gurrrrrrl. None.)

 

"Meggie!

You just muuuuuuuuuust

listen to his sermons.

Oh darling girl,

he is sooooooo much better

than his Daddy and you knowwwwwww

how I love his Daddy!"

 

Second thing:

Yes, Judy was a cherished friend and mentor.

No, I had no inclination to

follow this particular advice

because her description

sorta made me think of some

young kid

standing up in front of a congregation

hot-dogging on his Daddy's coat tails

and I had no interest

in entertaining

that

sort of sideshow.

 

Yeah, that's really what I thought.

Shame on me.

Shame on me for not trusting my Judy

who was to be trusted

in all things

if anyone at all

can ever be trusted.

But on this count,

I just ignored her advice.

 

I liked Dr. Charles Stanley.

Loved him, actually.

I'd listened to him on the radio

for years.

No reason to

go in search

of his kid.

 

So.

Fast-forward a few years.

My precious friend

went home to be with the Lord

years ago after a brave
battle with cancer.

I miss her terribly.

Actually I still write her emails now and then.

And no, I don't think she's checking them out

from heaven.

And I honestly don't know

what happens to our email boxes

when we die.

But our friendship lived

mostly on computer screens

and email pages

since she lived in Colorado

and I lived in Iowa.

It just seems natural to

continue chatting with her

by email

now and then.

 

I miss her

and credit her with

teaching me so many many things

and serving as a treasured

and much-revered mother figure

in my adult life.

 

This summer

quite unexpectedly

I came face to face

with some heart challenges

which required the

serious stretching of my

faith muscles.

Ouch.

 

I thought I was pretty good on the

faith treadmill

but a few intense miles

reminded me

my spirit was in need of

deeper conditioning.

 

Seeking to

deepen my

understanding

of God's Word

and his direction in my life

I reflected on

the wisdom shared with me

through the years

by wise friends

as I sought direction

and a stronger faith

to rely on

as I walked

some unexpected paths

of confusion

and challenge.

 

In the midst of it

I heard Judy's sweet voice

urging me to listen and learn from

her favorite pastor on earth:

Andy Stanley.

 

Years after her

gentlest of persuasion,

I gave in to the urging

of that dear voice.

I went looking for Andy.

 

I'm so glad I did.

He's a wonderful speaker

I love his scripture-based messages

which I find

feed my soul

pique my interest to learn more

and help satisfy my longing to grow

deeper in my

walk with Jesus.

 

I am so very, very thankful for North Point Church

from whose platform he (and others) preach.

I'm thankful

Sunday service messages

from North Point Church services

are available online.

 

And I'm so thankful to my

dear Judy for hounding me

over and over

and over

to listen. 

 

Miss you, dear one.
I'm listening.
I'm learning.

Most recently I went through a 2-part series called
Killin' It.

Y'oughta give a listen.
Click below.
And I hope the messages
bless your heart
like they did mine.

North Point Church / Killin' It Series