Cardboard Testimonies
(please let the video buffer - it’s in HD and is slightly larger than otherwise)
This video is what we called “Cardboard Testimonies” in our leadership community at our church; it was filmed with real people (not actors) at Central Christian Church in Las Vegas. It was decided, during a leadership-summit (of sorts) that we would use the same song (by Chris Tomlin) and method to help publicize what our “Restore” groups (recovery-based groups) were doing and how being in community could heal you and heal others.
So today was our day. My husband and I were 2 of 21 people who held up signs stating our affliction at varying points in the song and then went to stand in front of the congregation at a chorus-vamp. My husband’s sign said, “Struggled with an Addiction,” and mine said, “Isolated by his Addiction.” Signs varied per participant - from “Addicted” to “Abused” to “Isolated.” At the ending chorus of “My chains are gone | I’ve been set free,” we began to turn our signs over to indicate how God has been healing us.
My husband’s sign and mine said the same: “We’re Changing Lives.” Double-meaning - our lives are changing, but we have the immense privilege of helping others as God changes their lives, too. My husband’s involvement in the Samson Society via Restore and mine in Celebrate Recovery are precious to us - not only do we get to stay on the path to recovery, but we get to work with amazing people who are recovering themselves and those who will find courage to begin their walk to recovery.
There’s something really hard and humbling about owning your crap - not just in front of God, but in front of God and everybody. It was significantly harder than I anticipated to stand there and own my crap - and I welled up when we turned them over - because it’s true. We’re changing, but we get to help change others’ lives, too.
It was curious how many people were awkwardly uncomfortable afterward - how many people did not engage us in conversation who normally do. Maybe it’s the shock of revelation, maybe it’s the not-knowing-what-to-say-so-I’ll-say-nothing. *shrug*
I’m really glad we did it, and we get to do it again in 2 weeks at the other campus. I wonder if it will be easier the 2nd and 3rd times through? 
His and his,
~Cori
August 30th, 2009 at 10:59 pm
Cori (Eowyn I),
What a precious video. So many amazing things happen when we ~ as the saying goes ~ let go and let God. And I’m glad that you and your husband got to participate in a similar project at your church. That was powerful for you both.
Isn’t it interesting, though, how some people who engaged with you before held back now? I think it’s partially embarassment, not knowing what to say, uncomfortable because maybe they’re going through something similar and don’t like seeing it so out in the open like that (even if it’s someone else’s experience).
I can remember when Michael and I were just beginning to restore our marriage, there was a cousin of mine who wanted nothing to do with me (us). For her, it was a trust issue (something’s she’s struggled with her whole life). As much as I was saddened by her departure, I needed to let it happen and yet still let her know that my door and my heart were open to her if and when she decided to re-engage in the relationship. It took over a year and is still being rebuilt.
This was a real struggle for me because I can tend to get hung up on what others think of me/how they perceive me. I recently had a conversation about this with a friend of mine who struggles in the same way. I told her that we never know what’s going on in the lives of others; struggles, wounds, weeknesses, etc. I find it’s easier for me when I put this sort of spin on things. Gives me a different and more compassionate perspective.
Annalea (Eowyn II)
August 31st, 2009 at 6:16 am
Eowyn II -
I can so very much relate to what you said - because there was a part of me that got quite worked up early yesterday morning and when I stopped to analyze why, I realized that it was self-protection standing in my way. As in, “Are we going to be rejected by being honest and doing this?”
I stopped though, because I’ve said it before and I’ll continue to say it: *I* do not matter in this equation as the world tells me *I* matter - if God can use our story and get the glory, that’s all the matters to me. We recognized over a year ago that being willing to be honest put us at risk - there would be some people who couldn’t handle the revelation. But we need to allow them time and space, if that happens - because we are only responsible for our story and our fidelity to what God has asked us to do. We cannot *make* people accept us.
With that in mind, we’re okay giving people space. We cannot even assume acceptance within our families, and so we’ve kept almost completely quiet.
People will come around - I’m okay with waiting. I just have to remember what my responsibility is, and it’s not to change people, it’s to continue to change myself & my marriage.
~Cori
(Eowyn I)
August 31st, 2009 at 1:20 pm
Cori (Eowyn I),
So true about people not accepting what’s working in your life; even in your own family. I don’t think that my own mother even fully believes it and she’s SEEN the fruit! Sometimes, when we speak about how our marriage was healed, you’d think we were peddling tickets to some carnival freakshow! I don’t understand it because what we’re doing is living God’s Word.
In our case (with regard to my mom, some of my nearest and dearest friends and other relatives), the reality of a “husband loving his wife as Christ loved the church and gave his life for her” is something they’ve NEVER experienced in their own marriages. They’ve read the words a zillion times but, for whatever reason, haven’t lived it out on either the giving or receiving end. They’ve chosen to settle and you know what? They’re struggling; they continue to live in the belief that what we share “won’t work for them”.
Like you said, all we can do is continue to wait and give space and be there if and when they’re ready.
Annalea (Eowyn II)
August 31st, 2009 at 4:40 pm
Hey ladies,
I love passionately convinced women who hold to a revelation about some area of their lives.
Some of the most colorful people I have met are those who are outside the same ol’ same ol’ and who have unfortunately had to suffer the consequences! You find them in all walks of life and I actually consider myself blessed when I come across one.
I have been ostracized for many stands that I have made during my Christian walk. To say that one has to develop tough skin is not entirely accurate but presents a colorful visual.
Keep in mind that we are walking forward and God did not give us eyes in the back of our heads….therefore, once you have passed certain unhealthy specimens of humanity, who try to spew debris upon you, simply keep moving forward.
The secret is to make sure you know which direction you are to walk in and then head out, BIG TIME, FULL SPEED AHEAD. Cross the bridge into God’s land and don’t look back.
Wonderful stuff to read girls. Cyber high fives from moi
August 31st, 2009 at 6:06 pm
In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. 2Tim 3:12
So….welcome to the freak show!
Nuff said
Hey, HWC, good to see you and glad you chimed in on this one. It’s important and something we all will face.
By-the-by….favorite colors? Cori, HWC, Sensuous Wife? Give me 2-3 please.
August 31st, 2009 at 6:16 pm
well now, that’s random!
hmmm… pink (all shades from magenta to hot pink to light pink) is definitely on my list, as is green, purple, and brown. but to pick one? I worked my way through seminary as a florist, so I came to appreciate nearly all of the colours in flowers - esp. the autumnal tones (oranges, reds, dark yellows, browns, and tossed in for contrast, purple).
yeah, that was a random answer…
August 31st, 2009 at 6:40 pm
Okay…THAT’s helpful….I’ll take that as creative license and just go from there
Yep, it was random. I tend to do that from time to time.
Just saw Slumdog Millionaire last night. Not the uplifting film it was touted to be, imho.
That was kind of random too!
I like pickles…
September 1st, 2009 at 5:31 pm
Mentioned your blog in our Testimony Tuesday video today
Check it out. It’s along the lines of your current post.
Annalea (Eowyn II)
September 1st, 2009 at 6:25 pm
Thank you, Annalea. Loved the video and the encouragement to keep on keepin’ on.
–Cori
(Eowyn I)
September 2nd, 2009 at 12:36 pm
Love you, baby.
September 3rd, 2009 at 1:43 am
Cilly-girl (love the pseudonym . . . and the herb!),
That video is flippin’ awesome!! Thanks for sharing.
My church did something similar a few years back.
I’m looking to carry the “forgiven” and “trusted” signs from my wife someday in the future.
Pray for the her and the pain I’ve caused her.
Purple.
Dills
S2H
September 4th, 2009 at 2:11 pm
Got a giggle from reading all of these posts. Bunch of fun folks.
Colors. Only 2-3. HWC pout! I am extremely visual so here goes.
Red.
-A chromed, cherry-red, Mazda RX8 would be a dream to own. I love beautiful lines on a car, hearing a powerful engine and most importantly,that it handles the road well.
-Love red for sex and have a cool get up that my husband drools over…a scarf which I make into a triangle then tie it in front across my boobies complete with red thong and HIGH heels…
-Red, tight sweaters made of ultra soft mohair/cashmere for the winter.
-Red, the color of the Blood of my Saviour which I call as my family’s protective coat, every day.
Green.
-Love, love, love olive green as my eyes match it. I look wonderful in clothes this color.
-Green makes me feel clean,cool and healthy. I love green grass; green anything. A huge, old tree makes me sense God’s presence always and all ways.
Blue.
A powerful color for me.
-I adore turquoise and ‘pool blue’.
-Purplish blue is magnificent.
-Blue is a reminder of water. I drink tons of the stuff every day to stay in great health. I love swimming with a passion and totally wrecked my hair this summer. It’s taking beaucoup amounts of conditioning to come back to life
September 5th, 2009 at 10:35 am
HWC ~
WOW! All I can think of right now is the song “Fast Cars And Freedom” by Rascal Flatts. Red scarves, red thongs, luscious blue water and a green-eyed lady! Love it!
Thanks for telling me your favs ladies. Shula told me hers via Twitter. And, speaking of Miss Shula, she and I had a lovely conversation yesterday morning on the phone. What a doll she is!