Now, before you think I’m a “wacka-ding-hoy”, just read my story. First of all, that’s me, little Paul, on my third birthday. Cute, huh?! ! was baptized at Verve last May, just a couple of weeks shy of my 56th birthday.
When I first came to Verve, I was a broken man, crumbled. I lived in panic, fear and desperation. I looked at my life as one of unfulfilled potential, with no hope of anything ever changing. I wanted to give up.
I think I still believed in God, but could see no way He had any impact on my life. My journey towards Baptism was filled with angst, pain, tough questions, and doubt. AND NOTHING GOT BETTER AFTER I WAS BAPTIZED!!!!
I was still lonely. I felt no real connections with people and was hit with disappointment after disappointment. I could have bailed out many times. I turned to God and said I understood this was all part of His plan for me. While that comforted me a little, and I was trying to live in hope, I was still a wreck.
Then I bought a poinsettia plant for Christmas. My experience had been they lasted a few weeks before all the leaves dropped off and they died. I wanted to make it last. I went online and got instructions. I simply followed them. And the plant thrived. I thought I would approach my faith in the same way.
I continued to come to Verve faithfully. I continued to volunteer, even if I didn’t want to. I began reading scripture faithfully, even when I didn’t want to. And I talked to God for some time EVERY day. Just followed my instructions.
I just did it and didn’t really think about it. Slowly I began to notice that I was starting to relax more. I was starting to feel more “me”. And the poinsettia plant continued to thrive.
I just did it and didn’t really think about it. Slowly I began to notice that I was starting to relax more. I was starting to feel more “me”. And the poinsettia plant continued to thrive.
I started to see people more clearly and could relate to them more easily, without the expectation of, “Oh, please like me, maybe even love me.” And the poinsettia plant continued to thrive.
I was attracting people in my life who were good people, who not only had faith in God, but faith in me, who could help me on my journey in life. And the poinsettia plant continued to thrive.
I got cast in a movie. Zippiddy Doo Dah! It was easy. No panic or fear when I auditioned. No actor demons. Just walked in, with God’s gifts, and did what only I can do. And the poinsettia plant continued to thrive.
I met someone at Verve who was a teacher at an art institute. She passed along my info. A dean got in touch with me and asked would I be interested in teaching a Theatre course. I had to “audition”, teach a 15 minute class to all the deans. What?!! A little panic set in. I never had to do that before. I got advice. “Do power point presentations, show charts, etc.” Wait a minute!
That’s not me! I thought, “I’m just going to go in there, split the deans up into teams, do an integrate brain teaser, and HAVE FUN! I’m just going to be the playful child of God He made.” Which is what I did. I even threw in a Marlon Brando impression at one point. Then there was a forty five minute interview. I was so open and so “me” that when they asked me one question, I cried a little. In front of these deans! They hired me on the spot.
I thanked God, feeling for the first time in a long time that I was the beautiful child He made, and that’s all I needed to bring to the table. Could this feeling actually be hope? Yep.
Now when I got home, I looked at the poinsettia plant. This is the God’s honest truth. No better truth than that. The plant had NEW growth on it! I kid you not! I thought, “Wow! This plant is in a new season….and so am I.”
God spoke to me through a poinsettia plant. Yes, He really did. And the poinsettia plant continues to thrive, and so do I.
