Lost Sheep

We never know when we're going to get lost on our journey of Faith. Like sheep we often get distracted by grass that looks a little greener on the other side. I was this way for many many years of my life up until about 5 years ago. We were involved or should I say Alex was involved in a multi-level marketing company and I began to go to seminars with him just so I could see him and we went to a worship session before the one event and something clicked - I didn't really like what the guy was saying but it was a couple months or so after that (maybe not that long) I told Alex I wanted to start going to church. I was drawn to the Lutheran church because I had attended a Lutheran church with my Grandfather. I thought the church I had gone with him to was an ELCA which later found out it was a Missouri synod church but I'm glad we chose the ELCA church as I don't like some of the other synod's practices. Anyway Alex contacted the ELCA Lutheran church in town and he told me the Pastor was going to come over and meet us which I didn't really like that idea because I knew I said I wanted to attend church but I wasn't completely convinced in my head that I wanted to go to church. Well the Pastor came over and met with us and I really liked him and the kids really seemed to like him so we then went to check out the church a couple weeks later (it was a couple weeks because of our schedules) and when we went the people were very warm and welcoming. We started going more regularly and then we were baptized as a family.

Since then our journey has moved us away from family and we have found ourselves in Ohio. When Alex's semester started we had to go around and visit different Lutheran churches and different non-Lutheran churches and then we had to pick one. Well the kids and I fell in love with Grace Lutheran which is about a half an hour from us and I will admit I let Alex go by himself to the non-Lutheran church because I thought it was weird and would confuse the kids. We were all very happy when we found out that he got his choice of going to Grace. We feel very at home there, it is a MUCH larger congregation from where we come from but the people are really nice and friendly. The pastors there are pastors Jeff & Patti Morlock - I love that they are married and we get to hear from both of them. We really enjoy it there and are looking forward to growing our faith with them.

Talk about sheep straying away this is not where I was going to go with this blog at all!!!

Back on track, yesterday I got to go and watch Alex run a half marathon. He's been training for this for about 6 months now and has turned into a very dedicated runner. We had to be downtown at 6:30am which I'll admit it I'm not a morning person at all so that was very early but I'll admit it I would not have missed it for anything. I watched him take off from the starting line and then I headed in the direction where I thought I would see the middle of the race well come to find out I went about 5 blocks out of my way. While I was walking I was praying (something I don't normally do) and I was praying that God be with Alex and Pastor Jeff as they were running the race. Just as I finished praying I looked up and the sky was so neat it really looked like it was a sign from God. As you can see the light is shining through the clouds, and right then I knew everything was going to be okay. After I finally found High street (the street I had been looking for) I ran into a few other people that were having trouble reading the same map that I was and I got talking to a lady her name was Carrie and she was from Cleveland she had traveled with her brother who was running. We talked and found a spot to watch for her brother and Alex. Her brother went by first but she waited with me until Alex went by and then we walked to the finish line together and she waited until her brother finished - once he finished she went to find him and congratulate him on setting a person best. I stood and waited for Alex to finish and I saw him turn the last corner before that finish line and I was soooo proud of him. His dedication to anything he set out to do is remarkable! After seeing him pass me I headed to where we decided to meet and once I got closer to where I needed to go panic started to set in because I didn't think I could get to him but then I got thinking about those clouds again and new one way or another everything would be okay so I just continued along the fence until I found the end and then I made my way through the people to find Alex and Pastor Jeff. (still wish I would have taken a picture of them!) Alex finished with a great time of 2:17:07 which I thought was awesome especially for his first half marathon.

After the race we got home to see the kids and they thought it was really neat that their dad had gotten a medal. We spent the rest of the day just hanging out and it was fun! Today we went to church where we discussed the book of Ruth in my Adventures in Faith class and then we came home after. It has been a great weekend and I really feel like I am not a lost sheep in my faith right now - I know where my faith is and I like where it is going. It's okay to be a sheep as long as you don't stray too far from the herd (your church) and that you allow a Shepard to bring you back.

Thanks be to God.