Wednesday night, I witnessed the most beautiful thing I have probably yet seen in my entire life. It may have been business as usual, ordinary, totally normal to others. But, to me, it was extraordinary, touching, intimate, powerful, and wholly incredible. I cherish every memory I have of church, but this one will surely stay at the forefront for some time to come.
It had been a long, frustrating day of school. Stress over homework, essays, tests, interviews, and labs was abound, and 8 o’clock could not come too quickly. It finally comes, and I am almost giddy. I walk into church, into the love and support of my fellow men and women, and feel relaxed. When the time comes for worship, our college minister Trace speaks to us, and beckons us to “be real”. To worship how we see fit, whether it be through prayer, shouting with our hands raised, crying in the floor, singing praise or just soaking up the atmosphere. And what can I say other than this is the most real worship I have been a part of.
I choose prayer. But naturally I take a moment to look around the room and witness what the others are doing. And what I see is absolutely awesome. I look to my right and see my best friend totally immersed in prayer. I look up and see some standing and singing to the Lord; others are lying down humbling themselves. It is not the usual “stand as we give praise to our Lord,” or a worship band playing while we talk amongst ourselves and text on our phones. No, this is entirely real.
What I saw that night was a group of different people, whose struggles and inner feelings are largely unknown to me, completely engaged in their personal form of worship. These people were truly worshipping, talking to God and thanking Him and just totally submitting themselves. I felt God in that room like I rarely have in any other church service.
Something about seeing these people, whom I love, totally occupied and focused on God alone was truly beautiful, and it caused my heart to just swell with good feelings. Most of these people I have not even met, or have met only recently, but to see them all gather and just worship so wholly real was amazing and brought a warm peace and a complete assurance to my heart that my God is real, and He was definitely with us that night. It was a perfect beginning to an amazingly convicting and heart-wrenching service.
