The Best Monday in So Many Years

I'm so glad to be writing this post. I must be brief.

Monday January 09/2012 was the best Monday in many years as a disciple. I went to work and thought almost all day about going out in Hollywood and inviting people to church. I was a little tiny bit anxious and so excited to get there already.

The bus was so fast getting me there. I sat in Starbucks reading, listening to Satie (my jam!), and doing bill/budget stuff in my grid paper notebook (that's relaxing even when I'm in the red). Then Troy arrived. Then others arrived. Then we were all off to have a pre-inviting forum.

Dude, the apartment common areas were so beautiful. The classiness reminded me of the very few times in my left I was aware of how I stand out in certain settings as, in my own words, riff-raff. And I thought, I may look like riff-raff to some people, however, what's in my heart has a greater worth than anything I could ever see or buy. And the place was still beautiful.

Our pre-inviting forum was amazing. Uncle Seth started out with the how... how he got here, how Nick and Troy have been his crew, how they meet people in Hollywood. Then the what... what are we going toward. And I was quite aware of that feeling, the mixture of joy, gratitude, fear (do I have what it takes? do I even want this, really?), wonder, excitement and let's go! that I felt while studying the bible over 7 years ago. And I thought, I'm so glad to be with these people. This leader is the leader I've wanted and asked God for: a vision, a concern for me and each individual in the group, someone intelligent, someone who will lead, someone who reminds us who we are for God. Then the last question before we pray and commit our meetings to God: Why do we share?

Out in Hollywood with Nick and Mark. Meeting the people I was drawn to: a couple and little girl, a Mexican family of 7 who didn't speak English, a man dressed as a woman who was the most excited about getting to church, a Chilean who works in Big Bear. These are my people. :o) And I can't wait to see them again.

I've given Nick and Mark, who are very similar guys (they say they're quiet, they so are not; they have kindness in their hearts, definitely) a task: Tell my future boyfriend, "Amber likes vanilla milkshakes. And she wants that $2630 LV bag for a wedding present. The knockoff is okay." :o)

We had an after action review at Chic-fil-A! OMG! Milkshake and our favorite moments of the evening.

I'm glad to be here, with this group of people, living the dream, making friends in Hollywood. Active participation. I am alive and invigorated in my soul.

Thank you, God.

- Amber