The last week has been an emotional whirlwind for me, for so many reasons! The number one reason was the news I received about my friend Darin Hufford who is literally fighting for his life as I write this blog this morning.
When I connected with Darin several years ago, it was through my ministry Out of Exile. He had heard my story and if I remember correctly he reached out to me. We talked on the phone several times and I remember thinking to myself, is this guy for real? Something was different about him than from any other person I had talked to or connected with my entire life. Throughout our conversations we would joke about things, laugh about stupid stuff, talk on levels that were so deeply engaging that it literally would freak me out! I was so guarded at that time when it came to men in general because of the intense hurt I had come from, but it was like this guy could read my heart and calm my fears in an instant.
He then sent me his book - "The God's Honest Truth." When I read that book, I experienced so many moments of freedom in my heart regarding my relationship with God. It was crazy good! The book has been retitled to "The Mis-Understood God" and I would encourage you to pick up a copy! Soon after we had begun conversing via the phone, he had a speaking engagement in Florida. I invited him to stay here at my house while he was in town. Seeing as my mom and I reside together, it was appropriate to offer my home. When he arrived, I picked him up at the airport, and we stopped at a restaurant to eat dinner. We just chatted as usual. My mind was racing in all these different directions (you know when you're trying to pay attention, but your mind is just evaluating someone, taking them in, questioning things, etc.) and I kept telling myself to FOCUS! There was just this presence about him unlike anything I had ever experienced before. He was engaged in conversation and made me feel like I was worth listening to, I guess you could say. Have you ever talked to someone and you're sharing your heart and then they just kinda glaze over mid-conversation and you feel like, excuse me, I'm talking, listen to me, I'm opening my heart to you and sharing something? With Darin, I assure you that you will NEVER get that kind of response. He is so engaged and so interested that you almost feel uncomfortable. It's like you feel your heart has been stripped down to the raw and its just out there, vulnerable, for the world to see! You can't help it! You can't stop it! You have no control over that - and can I tell you its freaking scary! In my case, terrifying! During that time with him though, I was forced to confront my demons of having a rejection based mindset and share with him....AFRAID! Listen, Darin doesn't do casual when it comes to relationships!!
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| Darin and Angie Hufford |
This morning as I sit here, I am so thankful for his amazing wife! I would think that most women would struggle having their husband travel to another state, stay in the home of a woman she's never met and totally be ok with that! One day, if marriage is part of God's plan for me, I so want to be that kind of woman!!! A woman willing to do what it takes for her man to accomplish his mission in Christ! Angie, even though I've never met you - you've inspired me from day one! Darin was used as an instrument of God to touch my life with something new - its called intimacy - INTO ME SEE! Another friend of mine, Gene McConnell, describes intimacy using that description and it is so incredibly appropriate! Because of Darin's example and of course his heart for God, his willingness to take my heart on an authentic journey to my God, it literally opened up the path for me to be intimate with God! My life was changed because God connected me with him! I continue the journey and now I freak people out because I want to know them deeply, and I care authentically! There is nothing like intimacy with God that overflows into having intimacy with others!
- INTO ME SEE -
Darin and Angie, I love you!
TDahl
