Confession...Testimony....

Here is an interesting story...

A few weeks ago a friend of mine shared with me that she was with a group of church ladies (I love saying that...it takes me back to Saturday Night Live...remember the church lady?!?) and she was telling a story from my blog and within the story she said, "Betsy Dudenhoeffer, who goes to church with me...." and one of the women said, "What!?!?!?!  Betsy Dudenhoeffer goes to church?!?!?!?!" 

Yes...that is a common reaction for those who have known me since childhood (especially the teen and college years)...

But allow me to go further...

Last week while I was in New York I had some time free time while I was sitting in a Starbucks waiting for a client and I was playing around on Facebook (Starbucks in NYC provide laptops at their tables...very chic)!  Suddenly, an instant message from a long lost high school friend pooped up in the lower right hand corner of my laptop...this was the brief dialogue between me and my "blast from the past" friend...

Friend:  "Betsy!  Hello!  Long time no see or talk!  How are you!  What are you up to these days?  I'll be in town on the evening of March 13th, let's get together!"

Me:  "OMGosh...Hello!!  Wow!  Talk about an old friend!  I'm so glad to hear from you!  March 13th, huh?  I would love to have been able to see you, but I have a church group that evening, can we try another time?"

Friend:  "What?!?!  CHURCH?!?!?!?  When did YOU start going to CHURCH?!?!?"  (typed just like that...)

Yes...here is both my confession and my testimony:

I am a reformed "bad girl" gone "God girl!" 

And....I LOVE the new me!  I'll even boast a bit and go further by saying I'm PROUD of the new me!

Let me share something else with you....

Earlier this evening I was attending a community meeting along with various community leaders from various businesses, churches, non profit organizations...and across the isle from me sat a young man, dark, "bed head" hair, leather jacket, jeans and loafers.  He introduced himself as John Skyles, Pastor at Solid Rock Church....

I gave him a quick smile...

Afterwards as I was grabbing my purse John walked up to me and said, "Did you go to Jefferson City High School?"  I replied, "Yes..." He inquired again, "Did you graduate in 1992?"  Again, I replied, "Yes."  He took my hand to shake it and said, "Was your maiden name Fine?" (Oh no....what does he remember and where is this conversation about to go?)...hesitantly I replied, "Yes..." and he smiled a beautiful smile and said, "I'm John Skyles, we went to school together but you may not remember me...I was a junkie back then..."

And I stood holding John's hand in my hand and smiled at the thought of the reformed "junkie" who was now a Pastor! 

GOD IS AMAZING!

I'm sharing this with you because it is important to me that all of you (old friends and new) understand that I am still Betsy "Fine" Dudenhoeffer...funny, witty, compassionate, sometimes an adventurous soul, imaginative, full of laughter, loud, talkative and loving life....

and now I add to that list....the love, the mercy and the grace of Jesus Christ in my heart.

While I sat in the New York airport last week during an almost two hour delay I emailed a favorite friend of mine the following:

"I'm sitting in LaGuardia airport with a two hour delay.  I left my book in the pocket of my luggage, so I sit alone with only my inside personal thoughts.  I look around at the countless strangers that surround me, creating various life situations for each one; 'she is catching a flight back home from a girls week in NYC.  She wears her thigh high boots, an impulse buy, as she is shy and quiet...she anticipates the look on her husband's face when he greets her at the gate.'

All the while I ponder my own life and how far I've come...I often have to pinch myself as I sit in a Starbucks on 52nd and Broadway.  I tear up when I recall the amazing people that have crossed my path...my long and winding, often bumpy, sometimes veering path....

And I think about my decision to follow Christ...the escape from an unpleasant life, the adventure of a far better way of life, free for new things, open for growth and creativity...

And I smile."

So....for everyone that has the reaction of "Betsy Dudenhoeffer goes to church??!"....

Not only do I go to church, but I'm also on the children's ministry parent committee, praise and worship team, choir and my family and I belong to two life groups....

Yes....Betsy Dudenhoeffer goes to church....and she LOVES the new Betsy!  ;)