A Place To Gather

I don’t always get around to it but on Sunday evenings I like to watch “The Polaha Chautauqua.” It has been a weekly live on Instagram run by actor Kristoffer Polaha. I first discovered him in the show “Ringer.” This show only lasted one season, but it was the only thing that gave me a want to keep going. I would have thoughts such as, “I can’t hurt myself, I need to see what happens next week.” I later discovered his show “Life Unexpected,” which I believe is one of the main things people know him for.

Here is the storyline from IMDB, “15-year-old foster-care vet Lux has finally decided to become an emancipated minor. During her journey through the legal maze, she finds her biological father, 32-year-old Nate “Baze” Bazile, who lives above a bar and is astonished to learn that he has a daughter, and finally her biological mother, Cate Cassidy, a local-radio star with a fiancé, Ryan Thomas. A judge decides to grant temporary custody of Lux to Baze and Cate instead of emancipating her.”

When it was on streaming services such as Netflix or Amazon, I would watch it annually. Usually right before the new year because it would in some ways restart me. I related so much to Lux, especially the first few times watching when I was closer to high-school age than I am now. Even so, each time I watch the show, especially by the ending I am crying. So much of what Lux feels in the show, I have felt or still do. Watching “Life Unexpected” will motivate me once again to keep going and not let my situation stop me from accomplishing life.

I had followed Kris on Twitter since “Ringer” but hadn’t kept up too much. He began tweeting his daily haikus, which began to catch my eye. It was one that talked about God that grabbed my interest. I did not at all expect him to have any sort of faith. I think this was when I decided to follow him on Instagram. When Corona happened he began doing these lives, and I would join them once in a while. These lives began to showcase his faith. He does a good job sharing about God, but at the same time allowing the space to feel safe for those who may not be Christians.

This past year, I have had to work on trusting Christian and religious atmospheres after being betrayed by one. It’s not an easy task, even if that’s something you want dearly. The current pandemic makes it more complicated. The Instagram lives that Kris does weekly gets me to feel a part of God that I don’t get to feel much these days. It’s that feeling of community of people who want to share the goodness of life and faith. Each time a live ends all I want is to be with God, instead of the usual opposite these days.

Today, was the first time back since Christmas, and it inspired me. We talked about goals for 2021. I am not one to set goals because most of the time my goal is to survive the year.

With me working from home and not consistently being around people I don’t feel my walls as much. I discovered the other day when I was in the mood the “dress up” and go out, which meant get take out, how strong they are. I think I could say I am doing pretty good healing from the range of abuse I have had. Better than I could ever imagine. Right now parts of my life are in ways on pause since I don’t have to physically interact with people a lot. When I have to go interact with people is when I feel parts that still need healing from past abuse.

Kris started doing “The Polaha Chautauqua,” to create a “place for us to gather, but more than that, it’s a place for all of us to learn and grow and share our human experience.” I think in ways the reasons that this “show” was created are similar to the reasons I started blogging. To reach people, and share what life is showing us.

I’ve said it many times and I will say it many times after, but God is the only reason I have made it this far. It has been hard recently, not to trust God but to trust those who are claiming to follow God. I am thankful that I do have a church and a pastor that I do trust.

I am grateful for people like Kristoffer Polaha who have decided to use their platform to create community.

Here are Kristoffer’s social media if you would like to check them out.