The Path I Was Meant For

Took a little hiatus the past 2 months but I am back! Last weekend I had a pretty big life moment I wanted to share. But first a little back story of how I got to this point.

2018 I think will be marked in my life as a big turning point. I did a lot of growing last year as a person. In about a two month period I rid myself of a toxic and borderline abusive relationship and my mom(my best friend) moved halfway across the country. These two particular life events taught me a lot about myself and the people in my life.

I had known the relationship I was in was not what was meant for me. But I was in love, or at least I thought I was. It took one drunken night to show me the truth of who was on the other side of the relationship. It then took two weeks for me to work out in my mind that it was time to end it. I could not have done that without my amazing support system. I know how frustrating it can be when you clearly see the person your friend is dating is toxic and they just can’t see it. But I am so thankful to those who didn’t let me push them away and kept my eyes open. And mostly for listening and providing advice but not judgment.

My support system was also there when my mom moved. I thought it would be a lot harder, not seeing her and my stepdad all the time, but we still talk just about every day on the phone. But my friends here have been awesome making sure holidays are covered when my dad has to work.

But, even though I knew I had this amazing support system behind me I still felt like something was missing. Was I feeling this way because I was lonely? Because I had gotten out of a failed relationship while everyone’s around me was flourishing? Was I missing my mom? I didn’t know what it was but I was in a funk. Work had gotten crazy busy and I just did not feel like me. Fast forward to November.

Then one of my friends from NKU got married. The funk I was in got to my head and I was so happy for my friend but had the “single at the wedding” blues. But during the ceremony and into the evening I was given a glimpse into the amazing support Mandi and Jacob had around them from their church. Mandi had been asking me for years to come to a service at 7 Hills, and I always brushed it off as yeah some time. Jesus had not been a priority in my life for some time. But something clicked at their wedding, this may be what I was feeling was missing. I decided that weekend that when they got back from their honeymoon I wanted to join her for a service.

My first service was November 25th, and that was my first step back onto the path I was meant to be on. I was so nervous driving into the parking lot and then I saw people with bright smiles welcoming me home. I don’t remember the exact words of the sermon for that day but I remember sitting there thinking, “Wow, Nicole this is what you have been missing all along. This is important and I have to make it a priority.” Something there just felt right. It was different from the Catholic church I had grown up in. It was warm and welcoming. I felt happier leaving and was excited to come back the next week.

I did go back the next week, and the following and then one week I saw an advertisement for what they call “Summit”. It is classes that you take to know more about the church, yourself, and allow you to then start serving in the church community. I had only been going to 7 Hills for about a month but I wanted to get involved as soon as I could and decided to sign up for the classes in January. It was during that first week of the Summit classes that I decided I was going to take the next step and make public my decision to walk this path by being baptized again. I felt it fitting to ask Mandi to be the one who baptizes me since she helped lead me back to church and God.

On February 24th, I decided. And it was in those few moments before being submerged that Mandi told me 3 years ago when they were building the new sanctuary they wrote names of people they wanted to be at 7 Hills, people they had been praying for and maybe needed some guidance back. These strips of paper were then mixed in with the concrete and are part of the foundation of the church. One of the names she wrote was mine.

It was in that moment I knew I had found where I am supposed to be. I have found the path I am supposed to be on. It may be hard and I may try a detour a time or two, but I have the most amazing support system behind me with my friends, family, my new church family and once again God.