March 2007
Our Joyce Meyer adventure began at 6:00am on Friday morning, March 2nd, with the gathering of bleary-eyed coffee-bearers in The Source parking lot. Twenty of us had signed up for the free conference being held in Orlando. We loaded up into two sport utility vehicles and a cargo van and away we went.
We arrived just before the morning session began. The musicians took the stage as we settled into our seats. Well we weren't sitting for long! To our delight, it was the incredible Hillsong leading us in praise and worship. Then Joyce Meyer appeared. She was at her best, both funny and informative. Her teaching drew analogies between Christians and the eagle. We even got to see her dance like a chicken.
Adventures at Lunchtime
Lunch break was a riot. After forty-five minutes of following the GPS, we were still starving. We were just about ready to break out the bologna when we happened upon the Wildside Café. Turns out we found a local favorite for fantastic grilled sandwiches. Fun atmosphere, friendly wait staff, breezy outdoor seating, it was perfect for our bunch. We visited with one another about life, the ministry, and lessons we had learned. We could have been any conference crowd this afternoon, not just a bunch of bums in the soup line. There was a sense of normalcy, of belonging.
A dozen of us decided to stay for the evening session. We said farewell to our companions and headed back downtown to the Centre. Having still a good three hours to spare, we opted for a walking exploration to the park. We had passed it in our travels and felt sure that it was nearby. An hour later we were rewarded with nature's parcel of the city. Lush green grass invited a nap, the fountain whispered a lullaby, and sunrays melted away any remaining concerns. Squirrels played tag, and ducklings called out for an expected snack (should've brought the bread with us!) We reclined, chatted, and drank in the beauty of the glorious day God had gifted us with.
Eventful Evening
The evening session was even better than the first. Joyce talked about commitment. It hit home for many of us. She said that a firm sense of commitment moves us to accomplish what we never could without it. We must decide from the "get-go" that we are in this thing to the end. And God will sustain us. We don't have to beg God for what we need. I could hear my own prayers as she recited, "Please God! Please help me. Please, please help me." We don't need to do that! We can simply make our requests known unto the Father, then open ourselves to receive from him. Receive... There is rest in receiving.
It was well past midnight by the time we returned to The Source and saw all of our guests "home" safely for the night. We had laughed and cried, were lost and found. We had walked amongst our fellow homeless and shared ourselves with them. Our time together helped us grow in understanding and appreciation, of each other, of the world around us, and of our awesome, gracious God.
