Family in da Waffle House
A few weeks ago, I had two roommates who needed to get to the airport in Atlanta by 5:30 AM on a Wednesday. I figured I could serve my community by offering to drive. So Maggie the copilot and I drove Kash and Barton the 90 minute drive into the city. We had a blast…laughing, making up stories about the passers-by, and just sharing an experience. We dropped Barton off, only to find out that he missed his flight. So we all decided to travel to the nearest restaurant that was actually open for breakfast at 6 AM. And so begins
my first (and possibly last) Waffle House experience.
my first (and possibly last) Waffle House experience.I’ve always been a bit afraid to eat at a Waffle House. It’s seemed a bit scary to me. My favorite part was the syrup-covered tables that said, “Come. Sit. Stick around for a while.” The food wasn’t too bad. I do remember it tasting a bit grease-heavy, but I ate my expensive city-meal til I could eat no more. This, of course, comes into the story momentarily.
After our less-than-savory breakfast, Maggie and I dropped Kash and Barton off at the airport and bid them fairwell on their respective adventures. This left Maggie and I with a 90 minute drive back to Gainesville and back to work with lots of time, lots of discussion and a belly-full of Waffle House. It’s funny what I experienced in that 90 minutes. Honestly, I experienced intimacy. I experienced family. Maggie and I had ample time to discuss the painful after-effects of Waffle House. (For the sake of modesty, I’ll leave details out. But we can say it isn’t something I want to experience anytime soon.) We also had lots of time to talk. Maggie left me plenty of room to share my heart, to share my struggles, to talk about my journey with the wonderful man I’m dating. Basically, she invited me to share my life. And this is what I see that community offers.
In Community Life, I am learning that I am invited to be me. I’m struggling through it. Honestly, I would rather present the “pretty” side of me, not the me that struggles. But wearing a mask all the time grows tiring. And I want to be free. I’m invited into this here.
Do you or someone you know hunger for the Community experience? I must warn you, it isn’t always easy. But it is rewarding. If you are thinking that God might be inviting you to have an experience like this, check out the details below! I’d love to answer more of your questions…just ask! There will be another group of ComLifers coming in September; maybe you’ll be one of them!
Program Dates:
September 1, 2009 – July 30, 2010
September 1, 2009 – July 30, 2010
January 8, 2010 — November 19, 2010
To apply, please click here. Once we receive your application, we’ll send more details and contact you to discuss the program. If you have questions, please call 1-800-881-2461 ext 214 or contact our Admissions Department.
