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Wednesday, April 13, 2011

This is kind of off-topic, but I feel like sharing it...

People think about faith differently here in Eastern Kentucky.  Most people here are strict, old-time Baptists, and while I definitely express my faith a lot differently than they do, I've come to really appreciate the way their culture embraces Christianity.  Faith is something you can talk about with your friends and neighbors.  It's a given.  People here couldn't make it through the difficult circumstances that they do without strong faith.  Consequentially, there's nothing taboo about praying or talking about God in public places.  Recently, I encountered an amazing example of this:

Yep.  In the Save-a-Lot discount grocery store where I take my elderly ladies shopping, there were Bible verses (a little like the Stations of the Cross, but not exactly) posted all around the produce and meat sections, and these three crosses.  They are not usually there--I guess the employees put them up for Easter.  My first reactions were surprise and a little bit of amusement.  But after I snapped this picture with my phone, it hit me: I am so blessed to be in a place like this, even for a year.  The Lord is so present here.  This grocery store, where mostly-low-income people shop for off-brand food, was the last place I expected God to speak to me that day. Why can't we all be so unabashed about the fact the God loves us, and that we love him back? 

Just a thought as we get closer and closer to Easter!

2 comments:

  1. You guys may have noticed that I have been listening to Audrey Assad pretty much nonstop lately and this comment made me think of some song lyrics.
    "Are these just some words that I say aloud?
    Is this just the sun breaking through the clouds?
    Oh, I know it's more and I know somehow that
    Heaven is breaking through, And it's You"
    I see that display in the grocery store as Heaven breaking through and I have really been keeping my eyes peeled for Heaven breaking through all around me. As well as allowing Heaven to break through my life. These cannot just be words that I say aloud but I have to acknowledge that it is something SO MUCH MORE. Let HEAVEN BREAK THROUGH! :)

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  2. Life seems a lot less stressful when one can openly speak about faith without worrying what someone else will think. God is good.

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