Gathering Stories
This month’s blog post is written by Collin Thompson, our new CCC intern!
Through windows dotted with raindrops, I see the sign for Pike Place market ahead of me, and to the right, a picturesque gray Seattle sky over the Puget Sound. The atmosphere in this coffee shop is electric and lively. It’s full of strangers with stories that I may never know, but there’s something special about the laughter, the smiles, and the small-talk we share as we make the most of these moments we have together. These people have a story, and they’re causing me to reflect on mine.
A year ago, living in Seattle was a far-off dream full of maybes and what-ifs. I knew I’d love to live there someday, somehow – but at the time it wasn’t even a remote possibility. Now, through a series of events that were completely of God – I’m here, and that’s incredible to me.
Just three short weeks ago, I moved into a 100 year old, 30,000 square foot mansion in the heart of Capitol Hill. I met 21 strangers who were destined to become fast friends – friendships forged through our sameness and in the months to come, tested by our differences. and as these 21 people gather from all over the country, We’re gathering stories.
We’re gathering stories of a past and a present. Stories seasoned with hopes and dreams. Stories of brokenness and shame, of hurt and betrayal. Stories of what’s been lost and found. Stories of hope and healing and how we’re still finding our way in this great big world. We’re living, breathing, stories with such complexity that in these three weeks we’ve only scratched the surface.
We don’t have it all together – and that’s alright. So as our stories are written and intertwine, sometimes it will be messy and ugly but you know what? That’s ok. In a beautiful twist of love and grace, these imperfect, unfinished stories are being woven together into the fabric of God’s story – a story of such height and width and depth, that we can only see a small piece of it just now.
As this year goes on, I can’t wait to be a part of what God is doing at Central Community Church, at Serve Seattle, and in the city as whole. We may not know the ins and outs of it just yet, but I do know one thing for sure – I’m so glad to be part of the story He’s writing.