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Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Triangle Transition 
Pam Seale

December marked our first anniversary living in the Triangle in Indianapolis.   When we first arrived, I was invited to write a sharing about the story of my discernment to move here. I have a list written of thoughts to include in such a sharing, but life around the Triangle is busy and I haven’t gotten to it.

Robin Gonzalez and Pam Seale
 What strikes me most at the end of a year is our use of the term “sent out”. For twelve years I lived as a member of POP with all my heart, mind, and soul. I was “sent out” everyday to work as a nurse and did my best to bring Christ and the vision of community to that setting. We had different household settings at home, but as Charlie Fraga said in his explanation of city-building, no one could carry a pot of soup to our house. There was real sense of isolation and, in fact, a sense of being sent out. In many ways it was a harder life than I have now. In a way, I was called home.
Last December we arrived in Indianapolis to work at city-building as Walt took the lead for our campus team here. The transition hasn’t always been easy. I found I was more attached to some things than I realized. Looking at those things and deciding that I’d prefer to live without them in order to be here has been a life giving exercise. Life among brethren is better than having a garage, a fireplace, and a title at work. In exchange, I got the thing I asked for most of my life. I have more of the Lord. I have an hour more daily to spend in personal prayer. I have more time to read spiritual books. I am built up by morning prayers with my household without organizing it among community members. I have the blessing of engaging in deep conversations at every dinner about the Lord and anything in his creation that is on a brother’s mind without inviting anyone over. I have the opportunity to grow in loving kindness as I see loving kindness in others. I get to grow in patience as I experience the differences in personalities that we all have in the household.  In a very real sense, I have more of the Lord.
So while others in my state in life may choose more golf, more leisure, more warm weather, or more vacations, I am happier than all of them. I have more of the Lord. I thank God for Paul DeCelles’ and his openness to the Spirit that ultimately started what we now call city-building. I thank God for the generosity of Dave Porter and the Indy Branch who support our life so selflessly. I thank God for Nick Holovaty and all the city-builders who came before us and made our home a better place to live. Most of all I thank God for the invitation to be “sent out”. It still feels like more of a coming home, but whatever you want to call it, it’s a wonderful life and I only hope I can serve our Lord well here as long as he so desires.

12 comments:

  1. Pam, great word. Great work. Great encouragement. Just great!!
    Thank you for your work and hope and joy. It is really tangible through the posting.
    Andrew

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  2. Walt & Pam,
    Thank you giving us a window into life in the Triangle. It really helps me to experience unity with you as you live out this special expression of People of Praise life near the IUPUI campus.
    Your fervor and passion for the Lord's work is contagious. I believe that your work as well as the work of other brothers and sisters on and near college campuses will last long past your tenure in Indy.
    Bill B

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  3. God is blessed by your gain. Thanks for your encouraging story, Pam. What great JOY it is to experience the fruit of a deeper relationship with the Lord through city building, especially without having to "invite" others over. You all exemplify the scripture verse - in our weakness he is made strong - by your willingness to put the needs, security, and preferences of others before your own. Psalm 31:20 “How great is your goodness, Lord, stored up for those who fear you. You display it for those who trust you, in the sight of all the people” Glory to God!

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  4. Pam --you're so cool and so open to the Holy Spirit--I'm so proud of the work you all are doing for Christ and how my family members are/will directly benefit from your saying "Yes" to God's invitation to do Indy Campus--You inpire me--keep going! Love, Lisa

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  5. Thanks Pam for sharing the blessing of living in the Triangle. Great insights allowing us to share in the joy. GB to J. Glory be to Jesus.

    Dennis Burke

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  6. Pam, thank you for being such a shining example for all the women in the POP! Praise God.

    Beth Kelleher

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  7. Thanks Pam. Robin and I have been blessed by your decision to move to Indy and help in the work here. You and Walt have been a real blessing for us. Your words remind me of Ps 133: "Behold, how good it is, and how pleasant, where brethren dwell at one." Plus,we now have someone more our age to play with!

    RJG

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  8. Pam, you ROCK! Thank you for sharing this! Love you!

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  9. Thanks for sharing..
    I am so glad that God has given you the opportunity to live such a blessed life.

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  10. Thank you Pam (& Walt) for your encouragement! and a reminder as to why our Lord Jesus choose to call us to be in community and city-building. You're in our prayers, always. Amen!

    InChrist,
    - Connie & Alex

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  11. Thanks Pam for sharing your story! So glad you are there!

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  12. Pam,
    What a joy to read your comments! The Lord can't be outdone in generosity! I'm inspired by you as Charlie & I move to N. Portland in April or May. Pray for us as we do for all of you that we're all faithful forever to the Lord and his work! Much love and hugs, Pam!
    Carmen

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