I grew up Christian, but as an adult, it can be very easy to struggle to find where I fit within the church. When I moved back to my hometown during the pandemic, I knew I needed to find my church community again. What I didn’t expect was how quickly one person could make me feel like I belonged.
A wonderful leader and neighbor made a point of seeing me come to church every week. Even though my circumstances looked different from many of the people my age, he never made me feel out of place. He welcomed me exactly as I was, and that small, consistent kindness made a bigger difference than he probably realized.
Now, each Sunday, I try to pass that feeling along.
I look for someone who seems to have come to church alone, or someone who looks new and maybe a little nervous. I introduce myself, start a conversation, and try to make sure they know what I was fortunate enough to learn: you don’t have to have everything put together before you walk through the doors. You can come as you are.
That same leader also discovered my love of music and gave me the best opportunity I could’ve asked for: playing piano each week for the children’s group. It has become one of the greatest joys of my week. Hearing those children sing worship songs fills my heart, and it gives me a way to express my love for God through a talent I learned for fun.
I believe spoken words can bring people closer to God, but worship music can reach people in a different way. Sometimes a melody, a lyric, or the sound of children singing can open a door that words alone cannot.
I used to wonder where I fit in. Now I find myself looking for people who might be asking the same question. Sometimes I strike up a conversation. Sometimes, I answer with a piano and a room full of children singing about God.
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