I got a second chance.

So out of all the speakers I listened to and sessions I attended at Catalyst my favorite was titled "People of the Second Chance." Jud Wilhite (pastor of a church in Vegas) Mike Foster, and Tony Wood led this panel. Not only do I agree completely with what they had to say it obviously hit home for me ... and probably for most people who have ever needed or received a second chance (or in my case maybe a third or fourth).

I didn't grow up in the Christian Church. I had great parents however who set a moral path for me ... taught me right from wrong, gave me cerfews, but also gave me freedom so I could experience things for myself. For me -- this worked perfect ... or not so perfect (which turned out perfect). I made a lot of the "right" decisions ... but I also made a lot (or at least a good handful) of the wrong decisions. Sometimes I was punished, sometimes I wasn't but because of the experiences I had (and let myself have) I learned a WHOLE LOT ... and I learned a lot about who I didn't want to become (because unfortunately at times, like most probably I acted like someone who I wasn't -- or maybe I was for a while, but you get what I'm saying!).

I made stupid decisions in high school and even college that have affected my life, but am thankful that I was able to learn from those decisions. I don't regret anything I've done. Do I wish I wouldn't have done some of those things? Sure ... Why? Because they weren't the smartest choices I've ever made. For instance: I got my tongue pierced in college. Was this stupid? Yes. Was it harmful? No. Thankfully, I had the choice to take it out and one day I did. I won't go into the serious decisions in the life of Tara, but I can say honestly and thankfully that I messed up, I dealt with consequences, I was honest about what I did and went through, and now ... I'm a girl who had a second chance. And I think I feel pretty content about what I did with that second chance.

I got my life on track, decided what I wanted to do with my life (better yet, what I felt God called me to do) -- I learned what I was good at, what I was bad at, I've learned when to say no and when to say yes. I've made incredible friends who don't judge but who keep accountable. Friends that I can call day or night laughing or crying. I have parents who love me and care so much about my happiness that they'll move me from here to there, and back again if I wanted.

Do I think that having family and friends that stuck beside me in the rough got me through it all? Most definitely. Do I think that God's forgiveness and grace helped me to realize that no matter how bad I messed up I was forgiven and could live a good life that was glorifying to Him? Absolutely.

Do I wish I didn't have to go through some of those rough times? Do I wish I trusted less at times? Sure ... but like I said, I wouldn't trade the outcome for the world.

All of that to say (and sorry, it was a mouthful) these 3 guys at the session I attended hit the nail on the head. We think we are better than we are. We're broken ... or at least we were broken, and now we're fixed. And if you've never been broken, trust me ... it'll happen! They had 3 really good points on how to deal with failure and crisis ... (excuse my mini lesson)
1. OWN IT. Stop blaming others.
2. AMMEND IT. Restore yourself and the situation. After this you'll become more humble and aware ... I think those are 2 things we could all stand to be more of. They pointed something else out ... "one size doesn't fit all" as far as punishment/consequences go. (Just something good to remember).
3. RE-INVENT IT. We can't re-invent something unless we've been re-invented and thank the good Lord, I've been re-invented.

Alright - I think I'm done. I'm thankful for second chances ... people who offer them and people who accept them and re-invent their life.

Now for a shout out to all those who have helped me along the way! You know who you are ... and I am eternally grateful!

Oh, and you can check out People of the Second Chance at www.POTSC.com

Something New Under the Sun!

I went to a conference last week called Catalyst. I learned a lot of really good things. Some things I'll post here ... some I won't. This blog is not necessarily intellectual. It's my thoughts, others' thoughts, what's happening, and maybe a few pictures ... so don't get your expectations too high!

I've always appreciated what Donald Miller has to say/teach/write, etc ... what he spoke about wasn't anything new (well, it's new if you haven't read his book) ... but anyways - he has some good stuff to say ... even if you're not a Christian you want your life to have meaning, right? You want to feel like your life has a purpose.

He talks a lot about the story we live. We have the ability to determine our story. We're not puppets, we don't give the strings to someone else. We're capable of saying yes, no, right, wrong, and guiding our own path. So if we're not happy, not content, it's sort of our fault then, huh?!

"People become the character they play in the story they believe."

I thought it was interesting when he told us that the # 1 was to consume stories is through each other! Thankfully I am surrounded by great friends, family, co-workers, etc ... so this seems easy for me!

If we're not happy ... he suggests that maybe we're playing a character that doesn't know what we want. Or Maybe we just need to want better stuff.

To make a good story (a good life) we have to want beautiful things and teach them -- and we have to overcome conflict.

Micah 6:8 "He has showed you, O Man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

And I figure since I'm blogging again I have to update/talk about life, etc etc ... -- I've been living in St. Louis/St. Charles for almost 8 months now. It's crazy how time flies ... and also how long it takes sometimes for it to feel like home. I miss Savannah, yes ... I miss my family, yes ... and I miss other friends throughout the country but I know there is great purpose in what I am doing here. I'm waiting for the day to call it home ... I know it's coming.