Definition of………you.
Defining moments. Everyone has one. A point in your life where you said enough is enough and this is who I am.
A few months back I went to the NCO Academy and the class of, 13 of my AF peers whom I have never met, was talking about diversity among people. Extremist, gays, racist, and groups like that started coming up. Topics like how one group was always pushing for freedoms they already have. Then the discussions started focusing on Christians. Not extremist, nope but people like you, me, my mom and dad. That button I have, well it got pushed pretty hard and I interjected as one of 13.
I then told the story of my trip to Al Udeid Air Base. In my shop I had several guys who loved playing death metal and hard rock music with lots of cussing and all that nonsense. It was blaring loud as could be over the stereo system echoing down the halls into every room. After a few days of this I brought my MP3 player in and started playing Christian music over that same big stereo system. A few guys commented on the music but not hating on it. We started trading fair time on the stereo and everyone remained happy. But then something happened, people started coming out of the wood work and started telling me that they was Christian. We would talk about books and church and had a good time just knowing someone else was there to lean on. One afternoon, a few weeks into my deployment, my Commander called me into his office. I had no idea why but it's generally not a good thing when this happens. I Stood there in front of the Commander's big heavy fake oak desk with sweaty palms as he began commenting on the music that was playing. It was my music. (UGGG!!) Then to my surprise he thanked me for bringing Christian music into the work center because it eased the tensions of the people and made his day considerably better. He was very sincere and dismissed me with a handshake. All I could do was thank God for that moment, a moment that I will never forget.
Everyone in my class got quite as I told them- I am a Christian. One of those Christians they was talking down on and I then explained away a few of their misconceptions. My peers knew who I was and respected that the rest of the time we was together. It was a Hell or high water moment because I didn't know how anyone would react. I could be shunned and the NCO course would be near impossible for me or I would be accepted and bring Christians out into the open once again. God gave me the push and guided me through both those times with me giving glory to Father God.
If you haven't had that moment yet you need to step out when God gives you that nudge. Shining the light God has given you is wonderful thing because for me it felt if I was given a warm embrace and calming peace from Him. It didn't matter to me because God was assuring me that I was going to be taken care of. You may have had a defining moment and I would love to hear about it so please just take a moment to comment here or on facebook.