Jesus Class

For the last 10 weeks J. and I have been attending a class through our church entitled "Life, Community, and Faith." I originally thought the class was about the foundation of our church and about the rhetoric of it. It wasn't. It turned out to be deeper than that.

Every week for the last 10 weeks and 2 retreats 23 strangers have met in a room and have built a community. We explored tough issues like sin, not biblical sin being untrue to yourself and ways in which you have disappointed yourself or others by not taking action for yourself. By blaming others. We built a Torah for our class and for ourselves.

Every week strangers sat in a room and shared the most intimate vulnerable details of their life. At first I was very resistant of this. I'm not a touch feely kind of girl. I don't like to show my weaknesses my moments of vulnerability. I'm the tough girl everyone can depend on. Everyone leans on me and I rarely lean on others. I think I can do it all myself. But the reality is I can't.

I don't warm up to people quickly and Jesus class was no different. I was guarded. But as these strangers started opening up and sharing their vulnerability something in me snapped and I realized it would be okay. So I did. I shared. I cried. And I let myself for a moment lean on others. I realized where I wan to be mentally, emotionally and spiritually. I realized every week I had a safe place. We all had a safe place.

Well, last night was the last night of Jesus Class, and it was so bittersweet. But as we said our farewells we knew that it wasn't' really good bye. It was more like a hello, as we know that as 23 strangers we have made strong connection that ties us all together.

I learned that it's okay to be weak sometimes, for that's when we we become stronger.