When my parents arrived Friday night, they shared their story of how they were forced to foreclose on the house I grew up in. My dad, who is a big dude that never shows any kind of weakness or humility, humbly spoke of his inability to provide for my mother, and his lack of understanding of future consequences to his current disposition. Their desperation and lack of hope was heart breaking. I told them of my ambiguous future; having three weeks left before the BT closes forever with no break in my job hunt. I told them of my plan of bringing the mortgage company into the loop and seeing what their protocol is for when homeowners lose their jobs. I told them if I have to foreclose on my home too, then I would move to Georgia with them and look for work. It was a sign of relief that someone this close to them, who claims to be loved by Jesus, is experiencing similar hardship.
When I got home from work Saturday afternoon, my sister and her family were already here. Pop Pop and Maddy were playing in the back yard. We made dinner together, and Morgan shared with me that they were going to become members at their church. (You have to know my brother in law: He grew up Catholic, and has a lot of preconceived notions about "religion" and God. When he and Morgan first started dating, he would rant and rave to me about why I even go to church - or even believe in a God that would let things like 9/11 happen.) Mark came into the kitchen and told me that he was excited to join their church because the people there are great...and Morgan really likes it. Inside, my heart is in disbelief - did I just hear him correctly? He's excited?!?!
The other stunner of the weekend was that my dad went to the local baptist church that my mom has been attending last weekend. EXCUSE ME?!?! My dad went to church on a day that was neither Christmas or Easter?!?!? The only thing he said was "I think the pastor might be blind. He talked of LaGrange as a wonderful place. He must not live here." I smiled, because I know that some people feel the same way about Wilmington. Crime, lack of "good" jobs, predominately black and Spanish ethnicity and culture - the same things that define LaGrange are similar to that of Wilmington. I told him that it sounds like LaGrange needs Jesus just as much as Wilmington.
Good thing he's omnipresent....and obviously on the move. ;)
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