Thursday, June 4, was the first day of the six week Bible study my coworker Lindsay and I are leading at Necole’s Place. For the most part, my interactions with clients at Necole’s Place are limited to greeting them when I work at the reception desk and telling them where a fellow staff member is at. So, it is safe to say that I was equal parts nervous and excited to be engaging in such a deeply spiritual way with women whose names I barely know.
[pullquote type=”right”]I went into the Bible study trying to fight the feelings of inadequacy I knew were tagging along with these unrealistic expectations I was setting for myself.[/pullquote] I have spent a lot of time over the past three weeks since being relocated to NP observing the interactions between the staff and the clients, and I’ve noticed that the clients greatly admire and deeply trust the NP staff. I have found myself longing for this sort of relationship with the clients, and I allowed myself to (unnecessarily) feel the pressure to be on the same level with the clients as other staff members (many of whom have been at NP for years). So, I went into the Bible study trying to fight the feelings of inadequacy I knew were tagging along with these unrealistic expectations I was setting for myself. [pullquote type=”left”]She looked at me and said, “I’m so thirsty for knowledge. I want to know more and to know God more.”[/pullquote] The women came in after finishing lunch, and a small group of four women ended up sitting down with me and Lindsay and a fellow volunteer. As we all began talking, I could already see that two of the older women were full of wisdom and that the two younger women clearly respected their opinions and thoughts. As we sat and discussed the topic (four misconceptions of Christianity: religion vs. relationship), one of the younger women, M, shared that she was struggling to fight sin and felt if she could just overcome her battle with sin, then she would feel she was right with God. I got to share with her how she, like me and everyone else, would always be a sinner, but that is where God’s grace comes in. She looked at me and said, “I’m so thirsty for knowledge. I want to know more and to know God more.”To have someone say those words to you is a true gift. To get to share the knowledge and truth of God’s grace is quite possibly the sweetest position in which a Christian could ever be put. I’m grateful Jesus has allowed me to get to know these women and to share Him with them.
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