I volunteer for the literacy program at the public library, and I've been working with the same student for the last couple of years.
We start our meetings off with small talk. I bemoan my stack of papers, and she tells me how her kids are driving her crazy. We laugh at our funny stories and then open our books to start that week's lesson. The chatting is my favorite part of our evening, and I think she likes it, too.
The other night, awkwardly, out of nowhere, she said, "Did you go to church Sunday?"
Me: "No"
Her: "Do you believe?"
Me: "Hmm...I'm not sure. I grew up going to church, and I went to a Christian college, but I don't think I believe any more."
Her: "Oh. I think the Bible has good things to say about life. I don't know about all the stories, though."
Me: "I agree with you completely."
We then talked about what brought her to church, about how she can practice English and meet people and her kids like it, about the few months when I went to a Chinese church (she's a Chinese American), and about how I'm open to talking about it with her--if she has questions.
The whole time we were talking about it, I couldn't believe it was happening. It was one of those conversations I would have been thrilled to have when I was a Christian, and it amazed me that, even though I wasn't seeking it, it still came.
It reminded me that sharing faith comes through sharing life and through understanding.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Do you believe?
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2 comments:
"It reminded me that sharing faith comes through sharing life and through understanding."
One of the biggest things I have learned SINCE leaving CBU...I'm not saying it's like this for everyone, but for me-Well, I had to learn this away from people who already grew up with all of the answers (like myself).
I learned it through the people I met at Sandals, who didn't know Christ until 18, 20, 25, 30, etc. People who are still learning the stories. People who walked by me and shared LIFE with me...and understood when I sucked at it (life, that is), because they sometime suck at it too.
Thanks for the post!
p.s. I think it's super cool you volunteer at a library....I should look into that...hmmm... ;)
You SHOULD look into it. It's a really minimal time commitment, and it's so rewarding. In Livermore, we have a huge waiting list of adults wanting to learn to READ and nobody to tutor them! I'm sure it's the same in Riverside. DO IT!! :)
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