Be sure to read the second half where she talks about inviting her mom to an agape.
Then invite your parent/s!
A Taste of L.O.G.: Agape
This Sunday, February 10th - from 7:00pm - 8:15pm at the Firehouse @ Clay Church.
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Memories of Love (by Cara Mastic, L.O.G. #49)
My palms were sweating as I held the hands of two loved
ones. With Brad Largent and Emily Birr at my sides, I stood listening to
instructions about a trust walk. We all began walking slowly, eyes shut,
relying simply on the voice of the person leading us to tell us where to place
each foot. I had to trust Emily to lead me whereever I was going, to which I
myself didn't even know. There was a feeling of nervousness and excitement in
the air. I felt emotionally spent from vertical worship, and physically spent
from lack of sleep. Yet I walked, tired as I was, with no clue where I was or
where I was going, relying completely on someone else who knew it all.
That’s a beautiful picture isn't it?
We reached some steps, a place of complete reliability. Without the tender hand
and knowledgeable voice of Emily, I would easily have fallen down the stairs.
But with a helpful voice, and a slow pace, I managed to get down the stairs
safe and sound. We wrapped around the room, and finally stopped. The excitement
mounted as I listened to the story of heaven and hell and anticipated the
unknown. As ‘open your eyes’ was muttered, the room erupted. There was
screaming, laughing, clapping, tables of food, people around us, placemats on
the wall, music playing, smiles, hugs, Christmas lights, and most importantly
an overabundance of love. Overwhelmed, I just stood there at first and tried to
take it all in. Emily hugged me and brought me to the table. We fed each other
and embraced, and I was introduced to many others who fed me as well. Over the
next ten minutes I felt more love, joy, and excitement than I ever had before.
I got hugged many times, fed by many friends, and loved on by strangers.
As we formed in a circle again, we began to sing. We lifted
our voices and praised God altogether. The song that comes from this praise is
one of the most beautiful in the world. The room was flooded with love,
thanksgiving, crying out, joy, and peace. The Holy Spirit was evident in the
way that the music moved people. We took communion together, not only sharing
in praise, but also in the body of Christ. We concluded singing with a prayer
and another larger round of hugs from everyone who had to go back home that
night. Before walking upstairs, however, our lovely co leaders, Emily Reth and
Myrrha Thibault gave us each a cross necklace. It was one small way to show the
way we had been changed by that night, and we would never be the same.
Agape is not only a service of love for one another and for God, it is also a
taste of heaven. It is a reminder that after the long hard walk of life, when
we have no clue where we are going and have to fully rely on God to direct us,
to hold our hand and get us through the difficult staircase of life, that we
will end up in a room full of people so full of love and joy that it will
overwhelm us completely.
A year later I was on team a co-leader for LOG 56. As we
prepared and got excited for the weekend, I felt the longing to share my agape
experience. At the time, my mom was going through a hard point in life of
searching for a new direction, getting turned down, and not feeling good
enough. Although I was quite busy at my weekend, I came out of the experience
knowing that God was leading me to bring my mom to agape. I knew how much the
experience had helped and changed me, and I thought it would be just what she
needed. So, we drove together to LOG 57 the next week. Although she had met
many of my LOG friends and had even served meals before, I had never invited my
mom to come to an agape before. When we arrived, everyone was just leaving the
boat house to walk over, so we joined the group. As we walked into the room for
agape, many people came over with a loud, excited “Mama Mastic!” and gave my
mom a hug. I introduced her to people as we waited. The time came, and we
formed a circle. I held her hand as she anticipated the unknown. We watched the
participants and team members descend down the stairs. We stood excitedly was
the story of heaven and hell was read. The screams and music started, and I led
my mom to the table to feed her. There was something so special about feeding
my mom, the one who had fed me for years and raised me as a child. Now I was
able to share something with her, a very special something that was dear to me
and important in my own life. I held her hand, walked her around, and
introduced her to people she didn't know, but soon she told me to leave her and
feed my friends. As she stood on the outskirts of the group, many of my friends
who knew her came up to her, hugged her, and offered to feed her. The love
shown to her by the people I love the most was amazing.
It was so special to be able to give her the same experience
that helped change my life. I may
have been younger, not had as much money, not carried as much power, been less
knowledgeable, and not have had as many experiences but I was able to give a
gift. Gifts of love, of joy, of feeling connected to others, of feeling good
enough and wanted, and show her a glimpse of God. I was able to encourage my
mom when she needed it, and give her a night she would never forget. At one
point she was brought to tears, and although I normally make fun of her for
this, I know it is the way she expresses things that really touch her heart.
From that moment I knew I had done the right thing.
Agape is such a wonderful thing for that reason. Agape means
love, and love wasn't meant to be kept in a box for yourself, it is meant to be
shared to the ends of the earth. Whether that means asking someone to LOG, or
bringing your parent to agape, it not only makes you feel loved but it gives
you the powerful joy of loving others and bringing them to see the ways that
God works.
I guess I will close by saying I love you all! Everyone one
of you, even the ones I don’t know, and I think you all are so cute! (that one
was for you Terry!) I hope that in some way my story can remind you or inspire
you to share the love you have been given, and go out there and love! God is
amazing, he will take your hand and lead you through this messed up world we
live in, and if you follow closely, he will show you glimpses of his heavenly
home.
