Chris Burton
Chris Burton's Story
Tapestry
tried everything from alcohol and staying up all hours of the night pursuing relationships...and nothing/nobody was meeting my deepest need
Growing up in a Christian home that resembled a 50/50 mix of the Griswolds of the "Vacation" movies and the Cleaver family of Leave it to Beaver made my younger years exciting and happy, but somewhat sheltered. Following some minor up's and down's in my search for acceptance and significance in high school, college presented a whole new realm of freedom to test the waters of all the world had to offer-much of which I had never seen or experienced.
Because of this, I found myself enjoying all of the things that my parents warned me about and sheltered me from through my younger years. After joining a fraternity, my life quickly made a turn down a road that was paved with good intentions but led me to a place of even deeper dissatisfaction personally, socially and physically.
The hardest/worst memories were when I would come home from a late night at the fraternity house and look at myself in the mirror and see the external picture of my internal, or spiritual needs not being met. I tried everything from alcohol and staying up all hours of the night pursuing relationships...and nothing/nobody was meeting my deepest need-a growing relationship with Jesus Christ.
Many times I wonder where would I be today if the life-change that occured during my college years had not happened! Where would I be? What would I be doing? Would I still be pursing a mirage of false securities and hopes? Surly God's grace and mercy are demonstrated in my life as only He could have saved me from a life of mediocrity. I am so thankful that God opened my eyes to the joy I could experience through walking with Him in my daily life. The way I live my live today is totally different because of what I have learned about the happiness and fulfillment that comes from knowing God personally.
I hope that if you don't know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, you will take the time to investigate who He said He was and how you can know Him personally. I hope you are encouraged by my story-of which there is so much more to share! But if I had to give a picture of what my life is like now...I'd tell you that it is like a tapestry. On the back side, you have a spider web of knots, loose strings, and a tangle of thread and fabric that looks like a chaotic disaster. However, when you flip the tapestry over to the other side, you see God's perfect masterpiece displayed in a beautiful work of art! That is my true story!