There
is something about being gathered at a place with people because of a
commonality. A concert by your favorite band that also happens to be 37263567
other people’s favorite. A blog conference because you and people like you put
virtual pen to virtual paper and share thoughts with complete strangers.
For
me, that moment usually came at Christian concerts. I would stop and look
around at the packed stands and think, All
these people are here because they believe in God, just like me. I felt a
sense of community. That, even though I didn’t know almost all of the people
gathered around me, didn’t know their names and their stories, what brought
them to that place, I knew that we had something in common.
When
I came to ASU, I worried that I wouldn’t find that community, or that it would
be difficult to find. But what I didn’t know was that the community I was
searching for was waiting literally
right outside my door. What I thought was just going to be a morning running
some errands, God knew would be the day where two girls were taking surveys in
front of my dorm. God also knew that they would be offering Gatorade to people
for participating, knew that I wouldn’t stop unless they had grape.
And
they had grape.
I
didn’t think much of it. I didn’t even really know who or what they were
representing- my thoughts were more on the fact that I needed to find a Campus
Corner to buy an ASU shirt and get back in time to clean the room up for my
roommate to move in. So I read the list of things under ‘Interests’ and checked
off a few. Interested in music? Check. Interested in comedy? Check. Interested
in church?
Check.
One
of the girls there, Megan, took a glance at my paper as I was filling it out
and said to me, “I see you’re interested in church?”
That’s
how I found my community. Grape Gatorade drew me in because although I didn’t
know, God knew that these girls were part of a church on campus. He knew that
just by checking off a simple box, I would immediately find my community.
I
did. I found my community.
From
Day One, I have been welcomed with open arms. Invited places, included, cared
for, and I’ve never felt more loved. I see these people nearly every single day
at church, playing Ultimate Frisbee, Bible Studies, Acts 2 Alpha, Fight Night,
spending the night, and more.
Although
it’s been during these moments that I’ve thought, “How awesome it is that I
have all these friends who believe in exactly the same thing I do,” it really
only hit me this morning during a talk at my friend Sarah’s house.
Any
time I need prayer, all I have to do is ask. Any time I need advice or someone
to talk to. Any time I need help understanding a Bible passage or furthering my
relationship with God, all these amazing women are constantly around me. There’s
something so special about being
able to go to them about things like my past and how it affects me now and not
just get secular answers, but answers and support straight out of a book we all
hold so near and dear to our hearts. I love how much I am challenged in my
faith and how when Alicia asks me a question, she’s not afraid to respond to my
answer with, “Maybe you want to think about that again,” because she really
wants me to understand. I love that Sarah and I can so easily go from having
coffee and talking about classes and music to worshipping our hearts out, just
in a few hours. I love having this community that I know will always be there, will always be kind.
I
look up to these people. I know they aren’t perfect in their faith and in their
lives, but they are trying, they are striving for a better relationship with
God every.single.day. That is what
matters, and every day, I am so very thankful that God interceded when I least
expected it.
Friends,
fun, laughter, sleepovers, movies, food, coffee, Fugitive, SDS, SDWP, service,
worship, Bible, God, questions, answers.
Community.
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