Alumni Post: Cristian Canales

Writing this Harvest post now as an alumni of Louisiana Tech University and The Wesley Foundation is a really unique experience for me. I knew a day would come where I would move on from my time in Ruston, but I never knew exactly what I would be thinking and feeling in regard to my contemplation of my time as a student and intern at Wesley. The Wesley Foundation’s physical building is a home and a sanctuary for so many people. It’s funny to think back to all the ways the building has changed over the years. Every year felt like a brand new year in a way, but one thing we as members of Wesley all knew would never change was the love that Christ pours out into the hearts of everyone who comes to Wesley. The core of what Wesley is to me is the way people are formed and changed into the likeness of Christ. It is a slow, gradual, and many times intense process to change as a person. Looking deeper into who we are as beings and why we respond the way we do is a very vulnerable practice. Executing this is not an easy thing to do, but what I love about the people of the Wesley is, they’re always willing to step into the mess of one another’s lives.

I learned many things in my time at Wesley. I learned a lot about how to care for people and, more importantly, how to see people. Of course, for most of my life I knew that showing love and caring for people was important, but in my time at Wesley I began to see people in a brand new way. I found it important to not just see the outward perspective of a person but to know that this person is so complex, created in the image of God, and unique. No matter how cool, smart, quiet, outgoing, or any other quality a person may have there is a lot more to that person than what I can see on the surface. Understanding that helped me to be a lot more patient with people, and it helped me to know God in a much deeper way, as well. By being patient with others, I began to be patient with myself in my own contemplation of life. For those of you who are not yet a part of this community, I hope that you will take the invitation to join my brothers and sisters, holding yourself open to being known, loved, and cared for by my friends and by Christ Jesus himself. While you may feel like nobody wants to have a part in the mess that is your life, I encourage you to take the risk of accepting their offer to do so. Discovering who God is does not always happen overnight. It takes being consistent and steadfast to know the heart of God. I learned how to care for others the most when I learned how to let people care for myself. That’s something the Wesley community has always emphasized: letting the Body of Jesus care for one another. This practice is a lot more difficult than you would think. Nonetheless, this practice is something I know I will always take forward with me. It’s a scary thing to let others into your life and to let them know the things that haunt you at night. The truth is, people make mistakes, and we are more than capable of hurting one another. Letting others in to care for you is an act of sacrifice and trust, and more times than not you will be held safely. 

Life outside of Wesley has been interesting to say the least. If you know me, you know that it’s really hard for me to make friends. If you really truly know me, then you know the previous sentence is a complete lie. I love making new friends and meeting new people. I have enjoyed experiencing new people since leaving Wesley, but the truth is, I still miss my friends and community at Wesley. I am sure many have experienced hard times emotionally trying to find a new community to place themselves in after Wesley. I would like to encourage those who are finding difficulty with that to know that the Lord is for you. He will never leave your side, and despite possibly feeling lonely Christ is presently with you. I would also like to offer a little bit of insight coming from someone who experienced The Wesley Foundation for five and a half years and has recently moved away. Finding a church that worships Christ Jesus and is not afraid to preach about the injustices that go on in America is extremely difficult. The events that are going on within our country and world today are not normal. People are being hurt, marginalized, and taken advantage of right before our eyes. Yet churches in America continue to hesitate to talk about these issues for the sake of not hurting people’s feelings or losing their value as a church. The Wesley Foundation is not afraid to stand up for what is right. They are not afraid to preach the truth in Christ Jesus. They are not afraid to love people unconditionally and fully. I would encourage those who still attend this community to soak in these moments together and to retain the knowledge and education they are receiving as a community. It has been a short time that I have been gone from Wesley, but it already feels prolonged. I debated on whether or not I would put specific names in this Harvest post, but I decided not to. I currently am thinking of so many people who have impacted my life at Wesley past and present, and the list is long. For my friends at Wesley, know that I love you, and know that I hold our relationship dear to my heart. Despite loss of contact because of distance, I want all of you to know that you have touched my life in the most beautiful way. Thank you for the amazing moments, and I long to see you all again.

Cris is a graduate of Louisiana Tech University and served as a Wesley Intern from July to November of this year. He is extremely friendly and outgoing, which is immediately recognizable when you meet him, and he has a contagious energy about him that inspires joy in others. He loves playing soccer and is always ready to crack a joke that you can't help but laugh at!