What event in your life has swelled in importance over the years? Does it now seem as if everyone was there? (Serendipity Bible 10th Anniversary Edition, p.596).
The
event in my life that has swelled in importance over the years
occurred in 1976 when at 31 I decided to rent an apartment in Saint
Petersburg, FL. I rented Apartment F-2 in the Lakeside Apartment
Colony. The address was 1726 - 6th Street South. The
apartment complex was across the street from Bartlett Park. I
remember clearly that John and Margaret McGraw, the apartment
managers, left me seated on the couch in the living room of the
apartment to make up my mind whether or not to sign a lease. There
have been several times in my life when I've felt especially close to
God. This moment of privacy was one of them. I became convinced
that the Holy Spirit was urging me to rent this specific apartment
immediately.
Renting
the apartment has made all the difference in my life. My experiences
there could not be duplicated anywhere else. I eventually bought a
house about a mile away in which I still live today. In the
apartment I met a terrific friend that later introduced me to the
pain and mystery of tragedy. I developed an extended family and met
children that have grown up to call me Dad (we still communicate
often). While at Lakeside Apartments I started attending a church in
the neighborhood. This led to my acceptance (and that of my
children) into the church family. Years later the church closed and
a young friend and I started attending our present church. This led
to my meeting of Kathy in Sunday school. After a few years we
married. Moving into the apartment contributed to my work and
education. The University of South Florida was in walking distance
which made attendance there convenient. I work for the City of Saint
Petersburg. In 1980 I got placement there initially through CETA—a
program I entered after a mental breakdown that possibly was in part
brought on by the stresses of living in a challenged neighborhood.
Overall, the apartment rental in 1976 has led down avenues that have
greatly enriched my life. The experience has decisively contributed
to broadening my sympathies.
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