Nearly four years ago, I experienced one of the lowest moments of my life, which I took time out to write about some time ago here on this blog. The following is the second of a two-part post. To read the first part of The Bridge, click here.
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Although I have more gray hair at the age of 33 than most people twice my age, I am still a fairly young man. However, there is one thing I have come to know for certain: When life seems unbearable, you have to make a commitment to always VENT UP.
Our natural tendency as human beings when things do not go our way is to either VENT OUT to our family and closest friends for comfort, or to VENT DOWN to those we have influence over, in order to use our pain as a way of rallying others less mature on our side. A very bad decision I might add.
After being fired by my church, my wife and I had a very long talk.
We discussed that the circumstances surrounding my termination were not going to be something that we would VENT OUT about to many of our family and friends. To be quite honest, very few of them to this day know exactly what happened.
We also discussed that the circumstances surrounding my termination were not going to be something that we would VENT DOWN about either to those students and church members alike that we had a measure of influence over. We had seen far too many leaders before us share their pain with those less mature, causing many to grow bitter and leave their churches angry. Insuring my wife and I would never be tempted to do just that, we made a rather painful, yet tough decision to temporarily worship at a different church.
We decided to do the only thing that seemed right.
We decided to VENT UP.
We knew that only a radical pursuit of God (and a considerable amount of time) could reset and reconnect our hearts. But to be honest, I had no idea on where to begin.
Until that package (the one I told you about yesterday) arrived at my front door.
THE BRIDGE
When I opened up the package, I discovered that it was a new music CD (not yet widely released at the time) by a young man named Anthony Evans. The name of the CD was entitled, The Bridge.
Inside I found this words; words that I will never forget.
We all come to a place where God is taking us from what He had, to what He has in store. As we continue this journey, true solace isn’t found in knowing what’s on the other side; it’s only found in worshipping Him as we cross…the bridge. – Anthony Evans.
It was those words, and the songs found on that CD, that have literally served as a BRIDGE of restoration for me for nearly two years. A CD that helped prepare me for something I never saw coming.
THE HOMEGOING
In February (2009), I received a very disturbing call that a college student, one that I had mentored while serving as the College & Student Ministry Director at the church I once worked at, had passed away in a tragic car accident. Ironically, just eighteen months prior, I was blessed with the opportunity to marry him and his wife (a student I also had the opportunity to serve while there).
The homegoing was scheduled to occur at the church I had once worked at. And at the request of the wife, I was asked and approved by the church pastor to provide the eulogy.
{Insert very awkward feeling here!}
On that day, I had to return to a place of tragedy in order to bring comfort to those now struggling with their own tragedy. God’s ways are truly beyond us all! So as I spanned the audience, filled with faces I knew all too well, I gave them what was given to me nearly two years ago: a song.
Listen to song here.
Today, as you listen to this song above, I pray you will understand this simple, yet widely misunderstood truth: TRAGEDY and WORSHIP are inseparable. At our lowest of moments, God is still ever present. He is ever faithful. To know Him, is to worship Him. A lesson I am grateful to have learned over again.
Today, I extend to you THE BRIDGE that I now (through pain) have crossed. Enjoy your journey. I look forward to seeing you on the other side!
