Tuesday Night

Tonight I went to the Gathering and had an amazing time. For those of you who don’t know what The Gathering is, it’s a college/young adult gathering where we hang out, shoot pool, play hoops, learn about God and worship him. It wasn’t just the praise or worship music or the friends that touched me tonight, but the things I learned from my new found friend B last night that matter the most.

I needed to go to the Gathering, I just knew. Sometimes you just have to step away from the ordinary pace and bust out. Tuesday had been hard enough already, especially after following Monday. Monday’s are famous for the stunts they pull. Tuesday just decided to be it’s twin.

Back to the story, I was at the Gathering and we ended the lesson by Andy with a challenge to go and pray for one concern you had with someone you didn’t know. At first, I pondered around without a clue of whom I would be praying with or what. Suddenly I heard someone’s voice and I saw a guy named B step forward. I have seen him before in my building and had been introduced to him before, but not on much of a personal level. I decided to become his prayer partner for the night, and looking back, I know it was meant to be.

First, you must understand who B is. He is a loving and caring person who always makes you feel welcome. As he sat down with me to pray, he first asked what was on my heart. After I told him, he told me a story. He then preceded to tell me about a brain injury he received awhile ago that has changed his world. I did know that B had some disability, but I was unsure what, and that doesn’t matter to me if I know all the details. He told me that ever since the injury, he realized that worrying about everything in life is futile, and that he too worried about the same things I had expressed. He told me how his beauty used to lie outside and not within, that beauty within is worth much more than the mortal body can ever do. His words really touched home with me and I realized I did worry too much about all these things in life and it was time to take a breath and give the burdens to God.

I needed to stop thinking about my major, about a possible change in major, situations at home, situations with my home dealing with my Wuvor, situations with my health, and trying to do everything right in school. I needed to forget about the horrible World Civilizations professor that today “preached” on how the Bible is nothing but borrowed stories from other religions. It was literally a Bible-bashing hour and 15 minutes. Terrible. I left the class feeling drained and almost “tricked” like I was told I believe in a fairy tale. I have a newsflash for him: I don’t. God is not a story, or a secret, or a borrowed idea. God is love, life, truth, happiness, and so many other things and words cannot simply describe.

I’m glad I had the Gathering to go to, to refresh me, and lift me up. Then again, I take that back; I’m glad I have God to go to, to refresh me, and to lift me back up.