AuburnChick's Adventures

Isn’t it strange how one little life change suddenly becomes the link that connects the seemingly unrelated bits and pieces of your life?

For me, it’s actually two changes…pursuing a job in the teaching profession and joining a Bible study.  Allow me to elaborate.

This morning Soccer Chick and I arrived at church with plenty of time to chat with people before the service began (a rare occurrence since we tend to run late to just about everything).  As I sat down, I noticed two teens sitting behind me, and I caught the word, “Sub” in their conversation.  Then, one of the girls asked me if I had subbed at her school recently.  Yep…sure did.  They were very nice…they had been in one of my better-behaved classes.

Then, the mom of one of Chick’s friends (who happens to work at Chick’s high school, where I subbed twice last week) called me over and asked how I like subbing.

Why would this conversation be important?  Well, because I tend to lie low at public functions.  I am rather shy…not much of a party-goer.  I don’t think I make small talk very well, preferring to focus on a few friends and long conversations (just ask my friends at work).

Anyhow, it made me feel good to be chatting with the mom.

And then the gal I subbed for on Friday, another friend of mine (our boys played soccer together), came over and gave me a hug and thanked me for doing a wonderful job in her class.  The teacher next door had bragged on me.

Word is spreading.

I’m making connections.

What’s neat, too, is that a couple of weeks ago, I began attending a Wednesday Night Women’s Bible study.  This shouldn’t seem out of the norm for me, but the last few years, I’ve kind of retreated within my home and within myself.  I don’t exactly know why.  Perhaps it was our move across state that placed me far away from cherished friends and the pampered (albeit busy) lifestyle of the stay-at-home mom.

Regardless, I think I’m starting to come out of my shell a bit.  Walking into church is becoming a lot more like walking into my own home…just as it was for many years.  I didn’t realize how much I missed the comfortable feeling.  It really is nice.

Much more than that, though, is the feeling that I am known.  I think I’ve been rather lonely during the last five years.  Soccer Chick teases me by saying that my online friends aren’t real.  I know you are.  But sometimes there’s no substitute for the friend in the form of flesh…someone you can hug or go to Starbucks with (yeah, I know I can take my laptop and have all of you with me, but YKWIM).  I think that some of the saddest people are the ones who slip through life unnoticed.  I don’t want to be one of those people, unless I’m tripping over my shoes or something embarrassing like that.

As I make more connections, my circle will expand.  My city is small, and you can’t help running into people you know wherever you go.  Now, perhaps, I’ll be able to match a few more names with faces, and they will be able to do the same with me.

Sigh..

AuburnChick feels so blessed…

Filed under: This-n-That |