10 years a slave

I didn’t want to write this piece

Initially, that is.

Or maybe I needed more inspiration to write i, or my fatigue from a crazy work week is interfering with my creativity.

But I finally found the inspiration, so yay! Let’s pen this before it leaves me.

News Flash: Last Friday marked my 10th year anniversary as a Christian.

1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.10 yearrrsssssss of this Christianity thing!!! Oh my days, tooo surreal!

Where the heck did the time go?

The reaction I get from most people is when they find out I celebrate the anniversary of the day I became a Christian they look at me like I’m from Mars, and I totally understand.

Like, who the heck walks around saying, “Happy Christian-becoming day?”

Me.

And here’s why.

If you’ve read a piece titled “7 years a slave” that I wrote three years ago, a lot of this may sound very familiar to you

Basically, after nearly two decades of being a committed Pastor’s kid, God sent people my way to show me that being a committed Pastor’s kid wasn’t the same thing as being a Christian.

God wanted me to learn that growing up religious didn’t make me a Christian

God wanted me to learn that being a great Sunday school teacher didn’t make me a Christian

God wanted me to learn that having family members who were well-respected Pastors didn’t make me a Christian.

So guess what I did?

Surrender and accept God was right?

Absolute not. I cursed, made fun of the people God was using, ignored their messages, and ran far away.

Like Jonah, God was calling, and I bolted for the exit.

What did I run to?

Success, and building my dreams to become the 1st and only, and the richest medical doctor in my entire family.

Achievements, accolades, high honors, academic merit, all of that became my escape to resist God nudging me out of my empty religiosity.

The problem was by many standards, and in the eyes of many, I was on the fast lane.

I actually got the chance to interview at Harvard Medical School, didn’t get it in, but that was a mighty major big deal. It’s H A R V A R D, y’all!

To everyone, I was the bright, rising star.

In God’s eyes, I was a spiritual emergency.

And no amount of accolades could wash away my spiritual darkness, because empty religiosity is a form of darkness.

And 2 Timothy 3:5 makes it clear

“They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!”

Religiosity nearly cost me my salvation,

Until 10 years ago, when God butt in,

And showed me through the scriptures what it means to be a saved Christian, not a committed Church goer.

That’s more than enough reason to celebrate my redemption every year,

That God butt in to deliver me from the prison of having a religiously active life, yet no godly character to match.

10 years ago, God literally gave me a deep character makeover.

That I can forgive people that hurt me, and not hold on to malice. That was G O D.

That I can say no to gossip, and not try to go along cause everyone does it. That was G O D.

That I can resist the urge to lie just to look good. That was G O D.

So yeah! A BIGGGG Happy 10 years to God and me. He saved the world yet another broken soul.

Okay, guys, the rant stops here, me Saturday chores a’waiting

Please, please, please. Pray for me to be faithful to the end.

Luh y’all.

Oh right, right lest I forget,

This Christianity thing is hella HARD, so let’s do it together, please click here if you’d like to connect for personal Bible studies.