WOW! Is it November 12 already? Sorry I have been so absent. Things have been so busy, and I know that's no excuse! Well, maybe a little one!
I wanted to write a little about a church member at Centenary, Rodney Orbison. He has undergone an amazing transformation in the past year. God has blessed him, and he felt God calling him to give back as he has been given so much. He felt God calling him to go "into the wilderness," and he understood that to mean walking to Asheville, which is about 125 miles from our church. Around 7:00 a.m. on Friday, November 2, Rodney left from the front steps of our church and began walking. Several church and family members gathered to pray for Rodney and his journey and to send him on his way. We had spent several weeks planning the route and enlisting the help of other churches along the way. We got a pack for him to carry and other supplies in case he had to spend the night and camp out. I called local Sheriff's Departments and the Highway Patrol to inform them of Rodney's mission and to look out for him on the roads. The Mooresville Tribune did an article on Rodney. You can read it at: http://www.mooresvilletribune.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=MOT%2FMGArticle%2FMOT_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1173353346305&path=!news!localnews
Many people donated to Rodney's Walk. So far, we have collected almost $2000. God is so good! This great, unselfish, generous act by Rodney will help so many people in need.
Saturday, Rodney made it to Asheville. Along the way, there were many kind people who opened their homes and lives to provide Rodney with a warm place to sleep and a hot meal. What blessings they all were! After 10 days, Rodney has needed to come home. This was an extremely demanding experience, and Rodney wanted to give his knees a rest, and plus, he needed some new hiking boots! A large group from our church welcomed him home last night, and they received him on the same steps he left from 10 days ago.
What a inspiration Rodney has been for me. He has shown that nothing is impossible with God. He has shown what can happen when you take a leap of faith. He has shown what miracles God can work in someone's life. He has shown what it is to be a new creation in Christ.
He has shown that we all have something to contribute to help others, often in special and unique ways. He has shown the love of Christ in action. And he gives God all the credit and glory. May we all do likewise.
