Making a New Memory

Instead of sharing some of my favorite things from the Summit today I thought I’d share what has been on my heart since it started yesterday.

I’ve anticipated going to the Leadership Summit that Sunset hosts for Willow Creek, ever since I started working there. I have to admit that it isn’t for all positive reasons. You see, 6 years ago a large group from my dad’s former church went to the Leadership Summit and came out with a vision that involved getting rid of my dad. That decision has caused my family and me more pain than any of them will ever know. Many of you don’t know this story because I wrote about it so long ago. You can read about it HERE.

I wanted to create new Summit memories because the old ones feel like a nice strong punch to the stomach.

The past 2 days I’ve walked in the same hallways and I’ve worshiped the same God with some of the people who orchestrated my dad’s removal.

Little did I know that God had a plan for me to finally forgive the people I never thought I’d be able to forgive. I can’t even write this without having all those feelings of pain and hurt come back again. Maybe those feelings will always come back when I think back to those 6 months in 2003, but I know God desires for me to love my brothers and sisters not hate them.

They might have hurt those I care about most in a deep way, but if there is one thing I know about my God…it is that HE FORGIVES and so should I.