“If you do not converse with your past you will become a victim of that past. Like Socrates said ‘The unexamined life is not worth living.’” One of my professors at Johnson Bible College said this in context of explaining a class that examines the roots and history of the Restoration Movement. It goes without saying that conversing with our past has benefits far beyond that of understanding the movement that we come from, despite our possible rejection of the movement in whole or in part.
Conversing with my past has always been an experience that frees me, helping me to understand how my past has shaped me. How past experiences and events effect the way I live out my life now. The events of October 2011 are no different. It is a yesterday that effects my today, and a past the I must converse with.
It’s been a year and a few months since the events of October 2009. And in that time I haven’t talked much about those events publicly. Initially almost no one knew what had happened, there was this swirling mystery as I packed my things and left town. As time progressed, I told a few people, people I trusted, people whom I needed for support. However, I’m in a place now where I’m ready to tell the story, ready to share about what I learned in the aftermath.
I’m not going to come right out and spill my guts. I already have the line drawn as to how much of the story I will tell here. After all this story isn’t 100% mine to tell, and even then I don’t think it prudent or wise to tell all of my part of the story.
Sharing this story requires understanding of the past. It requires a conversation in and within myself. It requires for me to be able to dig into the events before, of, and after October 2009. I also want to write to share this story. There is power, hope, grace, love, and heartbreak in my story. I feel strongly that God tells stories in our lives that we are meant to share. It’s selfish to keep these stories to ourselves.
I want this to not only be a conversation with myself carried out in the blogosphere. It is my sincere hope that my story helps you to understand your own. I hope that my conversation sparks a conversation in you, your relationships, your community.
May you converse with your past and find freedom within that conversation.
May you examine your life and truly find it worth living.
Grace and Peace,
Justin Friel
®2011 Justin Friel
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