Getting Out of Our Box, uh, Seats

As I've mentioned before, Shawn and I are a bit on the painfully introverted side.  We want to be able to interact as little as possible, do what we need to do and keep moving so we can hide in the dark corners of our home.   Okay, maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration....

As I've also mentioned before, God seems to have big plans for us in this new church of ours.  In the past year we've been attending, He's moved us from our comfortable row in the back to the middle, He's got us attending Bible studies, and now He's got us sort of serving and becoming more involved.   There's no more hiding or blending in.  People know our names now!  *gasp*  This is difficult for us; we love serving others, we love being able to do for others--but we are background people, as in, please don't make eye contact with us, please don't acknowledge us!

God is not finished with us yet, though.  He is no longer satisfied with our roles as background, behind-the-scenes people.  He is still pushing and pulling us out of our comfort zones.  More like kicking us in the bums right out of the nest.

One of the things we struggle with is the greeting at the beginning.  Most churches cap the morning greeting off at around 30-60 seconds, so all we've had to really do before is nod our heads, smile and shake a few hands.  We did not have to get out of our seats.  We did not have to move around.  We did not have to venture out of our comfort zone.  In this church, the greeting lags on for a 'torturous' 3-4 minutes.  The first time our pastor announced that time, I know I panicked.  How long?  He's kidding, right?  RIGHT?  Shawn and I have not-so-joked about having to use the bathroom during that time, coughing uncontrollably so people won't want to shake our hands--just silly things in order to avoid what we are not comfortable with.

Another thing we struggle with--our pastor has introduced a new prayer routine.  At the end of worship, he has us praying out loud for two minutes.  What is this man thinking????  Okay, all silly sarcasm aside--if ever there were a time for me to escape to the bathroom, this would be it.  I am not used to praying out loud.  I am not comfortable enough, or confident enough, in my own voice.  What if I say the wrong thing?  What if I sound stupid?  I know the reality of this is--if everyone else is praying the way we've been called to, they aren't listening to what I'm saying.  And, if I'm praying the way we've been called to, I'm not listening to what they're saying.  Right now, the best I can do is raise my hands in praise, turn my face to the heavens, and pray inside my head.  Along with this, he has us praying over those around us who ask for prayer at the close of the service.  This also requires praying out loud.

I know there is an example we need to be setting for our children.  We are not unfriendly people, we are not stuck up or better than anyone else.  We are not anti-social, just socially awkward. This is a struggle for us.  Entirely out of our comfort zone.  We need to step out.  No one is going to bite us, and we do like the people we attend church with.  I know our pastor has only good intentions for his flock when he does this, as with anything he does.  He wants visitors to know they are welcome and part of a family, and he wants long-time attenders to know they are loved, seen, and heard.  This is an opportunity for us to interact, so pick up on needs someone may have, a chance to just love on each other.

This is a teaching church, and we are learning so much.  Our pastor is a leader, a good one, and I'm grateful for the way he's helping God drag and pull us out of our comfort zones.  Part of his job is to grow us, to stretch us, to make sure we are not stagnant in our faith.  I'm not sure he understands the kind of um, 'fight,' he has on his hands with this particular family, buttttt, gotta give him credit for continuing in his efforts!  Our pastor is faithful to his flock, working hard for our benefit, working hard to bring salvation and the message to us.  He works hard to make our church a no-judgement zone, and he works hard to make sure we are comfortable and welcome, yet growing.

So, grow we shall.