I've spent the last 3 days in muggy Nashville, TN. It's much like any other state east of the Rocky Mountains that I've been too: heat like an open oven and humidity you can actually eat.
This isn't about the weather in Nashville though.
Sorry.
I stayed with some old friends from Kansas City that used to live in CO that are from the International House of Prayer. There was also a group here from Montrose (all of them who I have oddly not seen for over 3 years even though they were less than an hour away). All of them I was heavily connected with back in high school. The majority of the people I met through my youth group, are mostly my age (so we're never short on good stories about each other) and all share a passion for God that excites me.
They carry a good balance between fervent worship and a good joke. I appreciate that about them. And they are super nice. One of the guys in the group is a good 10 years older than me, but every time I see this man, I smile. I also got to see The Berry's (if you ever get a chance to meet this couple, do. awesome couple). Ted gave me a big hug after The Call was over last night (I'll have another blog about the call later). I also met some new friends that I hope to continue with when we get back to CO.
It was good to see them all.
As I go further along in my life, I realize how much I cherish the friendships that I have made, even when I don't see them for years. It gives me a hope about my life, that I am appreciated and valid to others. In this post-DTS world I live in, experiences like this weekend show me that life continues and that God cares tremendously about us. He wants us to stay connected with the people we love; even more than we do.
