Joel’s Story - Joel is a new member of Hot Metal. Here’s his story, in his own words:
It is true what they say, after a Traumatic Brain Injury everyone eventually leaves. It is a lonely and confusing place. Then COVID happened and the entire world rearranged. I felt completely lost, and a stranger to the planet I thought that I knew so well. Nothing made sense any longer.
I found Hot Metal Bridge Faith Community on the queer christian dating app, Believer. It was a lonely cold night last winter, and I immediately checked out the website. When I saw the word "deconstruction" I knew I was among the like hearted- I had just given up on finding community at this solitary point of my life.
While in many ways I was both a medical and political refugee, the effects of having COVID still lingering and my body's downward dysautonomic spiral; I felt like I didn't have any excuse but to at least Zoom in and see what a service was like.
So, I decided to Zoom in for lent. I took on going to service, rather than giving anything up. I had nothing left to give up.
I didn't have an excuse to not Zoom into the weekly Wednesday check-ins.
These people didn't know me, and in the worst case scenario I just ghost them.
I didn't have to.
On Easter Sunday I attended HMB for the first time in person, and it felt like home. There were faces that I wanted to get to know, and what looked like a path that I could join- and, in the words of Anne Lamott, "I decided that the most subversive, revolutionary thing I could do was to show up for my life and not be ashamed.”
That is exactly what HMB has given me,
a place to not be ashamed.
a place that on a weekly check-in call I can say,
"I'm having brain fog and can't think or make sense of anything today"
and Pastor Erin replies, "how are your dogs?"
That love- that affirmation that I am not doing anything wrong by simply existing as I am, that feeds my soul.
I am excited to be part of HMB and look forward to living and serving the community together.
favorite bible passages: psalm 23 & revelation 12:11