Thank You to the Northern Virginia Mennonite Church

This past Sunday, I attended a service with the congregation at Northern Virginia Mennonite Church. Their pastor, Rev. Karl McKinney, was kind enough to allow me to speak about Tommy, Angelman Syndrome, Seizures, and the efforts that Vanderbilt University to stop them. There is something very special about this congregation, as I usually am very nervous when meeting "new people" for the first time, and tend to clam up initially. Yet being here felt like being right at home, and the compassion that I witnessed, is something that I shall never forget. Rev. Karl immediately showed an interested in learning about Angelman Syndrome, and led a beautiful prayer for a cure for the seizures related to this condition, which have negatively affected so many, or taken angels far too early.

The service was a humble one, with a lot of participation by members of the congregation. There was some singing, prayers, and even discussions about important issues that affect us all. After the service, which very much appealed to my heart, I was invited to join Karl and members of his church for lunch and fellowship. Fellowship. What is that? In this church, I would say that its a family, that gets together and shows concern for each other, as well as problems in everyday life. It was a very spiritual day from beginning to end, and I cannot thank Karl or the congregation enough, to share the details of Tommy's life, or why finding a cure for these seizures is important.

Yesterday as I looked up at the cross, I was struck with the notion, that the path to find this cure is the  right one. There's been anger and doubt, but its now time for moving forward and determination. There will always be pain, but yesterday, this congregation's offer to allow me to share Tommy's story, was healing on many levels. I'm not alone, as we all have trials and tribulations in life, its what we share as members of the same family. That's right, we are all a family, of humanity, no matter from which background or land that we come from. The Northern Virginia Mennonite Church is a family of loving people, and may God bless them, and spread their message of peace and love to the rest of the world.