Have you ever been on a road trip and looked around at all the other people in cars and thought to yourself…where are they going? Or where have they been? Sometimes, I will look over at a car and see that it’s the same person that was in line next to me at the last rest stop. Or I will see that someone I passed earlier in the day is now passing by me. We are all on a journey, seemingly going along on the same path in the same direction. But when you look closely, though we travel along simultaneously, we are having vastly different experiences at varying paces.
Recently, we shared Side By Side: Our Journey From Hurt to Hope at our 15th Wedding Anniversary Fundraiser. Nearly 150 people experienced our story and learned more about the future of our ministry, Side By Side.
Looking from the outside, you would see many people in the same room having the same experience.
But each and every person in that room was in a different place in their own personal journey. So, their experiences were completely different. Just like the cars on the road traveling next to you.
In the days following our event, we have heard comments from many of the people that attended.
It’s amazing to hear how they receive the story of our journey based on where they are in their journey.
The story we tell is “our journey from hurt to hope.” Well, the people that came to see Side By Side are all over the spectrum of that journey from hurt>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>to hope. People tend to gain different insights from our story based on where they fall on that spectrum.
From a godly couple that has come to Side By Side three times:
“Our marriage is better since being introduced to Side By Side.”
From a couple that viewed it on video when headed for divorce (and now have seen it live, too!):
“If it weren’t for Side By Side, we wouldn’t be married.”
From a couple that has been married over twenty years, and seen Side By Side twice:
“God shows me something new each time.”
From a ministry leader seeing it for the first time:
“It’s like Christian Broadway!”
From a couple experiencing marriage difficulties:
“This was life-changing.”
From a single woman:
“I can apply much of what you talk about to any of my daily relationships.”
Every person at our event was in a different place in their journey….all over the spectrum from hurt to hope. As we shared how God has worked in our lives, He was working in theirs. He uses our mess, on a daily basis, to speak to people and show them that He has a beautiful plan for their life, no matter where they are on their journey.
So, how did our event go? (People have asked us that a lot in the last couple weeks!) It went exactly as God intended it to! We shared our journey and, through God’s providence, spoke directly to each person in the way they needed to hear it. For some, God used our story to make radical changes in their lives. For others, God helped people to see how they can support Side By Side. For us, He faithfully reminded us of His goodness and His love and His grace.
Thank you to each journey that was represented that night. We pray that we are all journeying on God’s path toward the HOPE that can only come from Him.
