DanLog the ramblings of Daniel Pettit

This is my church’s original take on The Christmas Story. Over 1000 man-hours of love: painting, carpentry, Exacto knifing, animation, drawing, writing, rehearsing culminated in a performance of animation and live action puppeteering to uniquely tell the familiar story of the Birth of our Savior.

Three years ago tonight, with a rabble of jackhammer wielding butterflies in my stomach I walked into a room filled with strangers for RockHarbor’s LifeGroup launch. Little that I knew a new family was about to be birthed.

I didn’t want to be there, six months into a mostly solo walk, naturally introverted, fairly shy with a dash of social anxiety thrown in for flavor. But for six months all I kept hearing was you need to join a LifeGroup, that is where church happens. Unfortunately neither the Holy Spirit or anyone else was going to throw me into a car and drag me there kicking and screaming. Intellectually I knew it should be a safe place but nevertheless it felt like walking into a lion’s den. Thankfully God had empowered me with the courage to be a yes man or at least to be a “give it a fair try” man.

I exchanged few lollipops that evening and not because I couldn’t care less about collecting lollipops. Somehow I (GOD) landed at Emily and Shane’s station, their warmth, genuineness and relationship was instrumental in disarming my butterflies. Oh they were still there in droves just sans their jackhammers now. So like a baby duckling I attached myself to Shane and Emily for I saw no need to work the room for any more lollipops.

We were all then ushered from the Lab into the Commons, the adjoining room, where tables had been set up. Naturally I sat with Emily and Shane while other Costa Mesians that liked the cut of E & S’s jib joined us. There were two pairs of best friends a few other solo people and a couple friends of E & S. In short time the table, even the first night, was feeling like family. The existing friendships joining with others and the hospitality of E and S made it feel not much different than having Thanksgiving with my family (a good thing). There was even one woman that we playfully picked on, much like one of my own sisters.

Personally I had no expectations for what I was going to get out of LifeGroup, I just heeded the call to be present and find out what unfolded. Little did I know how much I’d be comforted and guided through a very rocky time in my life or that I’d met two future BFF’s that first night. As a baby Christian somehow I (GOD) was able to not fall into a legalistic mindset that would have come so naturally to me. My LifeGroup was perfectly equipped to foster my openness and shepherd me further down that path. Of course there were differences in experiences, stages of walks and theology, but they all modeled in their own way God’s Love and desire of service for the Kingdom.

Over the past three years many have come and gone from the group. We’ve shared, supported, laughed, cried and yes fought – we are family after all. The dynamic of the group is ever changing as we move through different seasons, even my original Shepherds have moved on. My life has been bettered in some way by all of them and I hope I’ve been able to leave some positive mark on them as well.

I’m thankful for God getting me through the door on that first night and for getting everyone else into my group regardless of how long they stayed.

Wedge_Newport-Beach_big-waves_Sep-2011_IMG_2000, originally uploaded by Daniel Pettit.

Big Surf at the Wedge Sep 2011

So Kayleen, Monica and I trekked down to San Diego to see the incomparable Adele perform. Hard to believe but this was my first “real” concert.

IMG_0767, originally uploaded by Daniel Pettit.

This is for my mom who wasn’t happy with the only picture of my new suit from Erin’s Wedding.