(Originally posted to Facebook on 10-22-15):

I’ve been wanting to write this for a long time. It’s the ten-year-anniversary of the day I decided to turn everything over to Christ – and I mean everything! My bank account, my possessions, my thoughts, body, soul, and actions…I trusted it all into His hands. I was so scared… I was sure something terrible would happen to me as soon as I let go of control, and sure that in a matter of time it would turn out to be just another emotional phase that would pass by. But to my great surprise, here I am, 10 years later, living every day with this wonderful Man who has talked to me through the words of great prophets and songs by Freddie Mercury; who has challenged me to go deeper, farther, and better than before; who has delved and brought out parts of my soul so deep I wouldn’t have believed they existed; who was the only one who ever succeeded in banishing my loneliness. And I am so, so happy that I did it. I’m not kidding, I really am amazed how much I’ve enjoyed it all. Every time the weather turns to Fall, I think about how I’ve spent another year with Jesus, and it fills me with joy to anticipate that, no matter what happens in my future, I will remain with Him.

There’s no formal occasion to the anniversary of a decision to become someone’s disciple. There’s no special kind of cake you buy, or an official uniform for the event, or a kind of cultural dance to perform. But even if I celebrate this day quietly, away from public events and without a change in routine, I just could not stand to celebrate it alone. Thank you so, so much to everyone who has gotten me this far. Thank you to everyone who’s participated in my religious education, to everyone who’s ever gotten me out of bed to go to church in the morning, to everyone who’s spurred me on to fight the good fight, to everyone who’s sat in church group with me, to everyone who’s ever felt prompted by the Spirit to call me at the exact moment I needed it. What’s going on inside seldom shows, and I love you all so very much for your help to me.

Love in Christ,
Morgan Hart
And one last thing:
I always thought that if I ever made a public statement about Christ, it would be cool to have a quartet come in and sing the Billy Joel song “For the Longest Time”. Life has not presented me that opportunity yet (and I’m seriously doubting it ever will – and even if it did I doubt anyone would understand the gesture), but at least I could type it here, and I hope you at least sort of understand why it feels like a hymn to me.

Lyrics taken from Billy Joel’s For the Longest Time:
Once I thought my innocence was gone
Now I know that happiness goes on
That’s where you found me
When you put your arms around me
I haven’t been there for the longest time
I’m that voice you’re hearing in the hall
And the greatest miracle of all
Is how I need you
And how you needed me too
That hasn’t happened for the longest time
I had second thoughts at the start
I said to myself
Hold on to your heart
Now I know the person that you are
You’re wonderful so far
And it’s more than I hoped for
I don’t care what consequence it brings
I have been a fool for lesser things