Cumberland Road

Cynthia Paulk's Faith Journey
I was born in Jacksonville, Texas and raised in Texas and eastern New Mexico. My father’s work required that we relocate every couple of years so I learned independence and developed the ability to “start again.”

I was raised in Presbyterian churches across Texas and eastern New Mexico. I took catechism classes in New Mexico and joined the church in Junior High. I don’t remember a time when I didn’t “believe,” but my real walk of faith would begin much later in life.

I knew at a young age that I would be a teacher. I have a passion for music, and I was very blessed to use that passion as my career choice. I spent 32 years in the elementary classroom (with a brief stint as a junior high band director) teaching elementary music. It was truly a passion for me! Who could not love teaching music....singing, playing instruments, dancing...it was a joy. In 2010, I began to think that it might be time to move out of the classroom. (Age was making it hard to sit on the floor with the kids-and get back up without help, and dancing 8 hours a day was becoming difficult!). I had always wanted to pursue music therapy, so I thought that might be my next career path.   I Unfortunately, those doors did not open for me. My husband Joe, had always encouraged me to move into school administration. I decided to see if that path would open for me and in two weeks I was in graduate school. I graduated in 2011 with a Masters in Educational Leadership. The next few years would prove to be exciting and would stretch me in ways I never thought possible. Within 9 months of graduation, I became an assistant principal at my teaching campus, then an assistant to the new campus being built, to suddenly becoming the principal opening the new school. I mention this because these events and a situation that happened at the end of this career path is what brought me to my walk of faith.

I had always been a workaholic and continued that work ethic as an administrator. I was the first person at school every day and the last to leave. I worked 7 days a week. After 3 years in administration, I had a health issue that almost killed me. During my recovery, I discovered that a group of teachers had filed a complaint against me. It’s not unusual for an administrator to deal with formal complaints from teachers and parents, but several issues were at play that made this more serious. Much to my surprise, I was not allowed to dispute the claims, but was re-assigned. To say I was devastated would be an understatement. All I had worked I felt was destroyed along with my confidence. That’s when my life began to change in ways in which I will always be grateful.

I was never angry about the situation, but I was very hurt. I remember not sleeping and spending much of my time trying to find anything that would help me. I had a Jesus Calling book that had been a table decoration for years, but that and my Bible became my constant companions. It didn’t happen over night, but God began to help me heal. I put YouVersion on my phone so I would never be without God’s word. I also began to listen to Christian music. I believe God talks to me through music, and there were so many songs that showed me His love and that He had a plan for me even through the pain. I began to feel the Holy Spirit like I had never felt it before. I also began to “listen” to God and let Him guide me instead of trying to guide myself.

I’m blessed to have a wonderful husband and he has always been my biggest cheerleader. He too was devastated when this happened and very angry for me. But....through our pain we came to our walk of faith together. What a blessing!

I was re-assigned in mid June, and by August we were talking about joining a church. God led us to First Cumberland and it was there that we found our forever church family.  We joined in September with a commitment to serve in any way that God wanted us to. We have been blessed with many spiritual mentors as we continue our walk with Jesus.

Walking with Jesus didn’t change what others outwardly see about me. I have always tried to be a kind person, and the personality is still the same....but the emphasis on what is important has changed. I now realize what is truly important and I try to live that every day. When I talk to others about Jesus I usually work this phrase into the conversation, “If you only knew.” If you only knew how a relationship with Jesus will change your heart and your life, you would jump at the chance to walk with Him. It doesn’t mean that you won’t still have trials, but your ability to deal with these trials will change. I have sometimes wondered how different my life would have looked had I walked with Jesus earlier, but I truly believe that God’s timing for me is exactly as it happened.

I love all aspects of church life and serving. The passion that I had for education is now my passion for Jesus. I am excited for every ministry at church from our annual pumpkin patch, to the savvy summit of free community workshops, to potlucks-game nights-Bible studies, and all that we have done and will do as a church. We were blessed when after a year without a pastor, God sent us Pastor Nate Mathews and his lovely wife Anna. It’s exciting to see where God will lead us. Even in the midst of the current pandemic, we are still serving and worshipping together as a family...although we are doing it virtually!

I look forward to the ways in which God will continue to lead me. I love doing textile arts like sewing and crocheting and I have been able to use those skills for the kingdom. I was so glad that I could sew when the pandemic hit in March! Who would have thought that mask making would be needed? I have also been able to use my passion for music as I play the piano during worship. If you allow Him to, God will use your gifts where He needs them. I feel happiest when I am serving...and I look for ways for God to use me.

Music is provided by Punk Rock Opera, I Wanna to be a Machine.  
https://files.freemusicarchive.org/storage-freemusicarchive-org/music/ccCommunity/Punk_Rock_Opera/Punk_Rock_Opera_Vol_II/Punk_Rock_Opera_-_13_-_I_Wanna_be_a_Machine.mp3 (2)
Additional Comments: URL: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Punk_Rock_Opera/Punk_Rock_Opera_Vol_II/Punk_Rock_Opera_-_Punk_Rock_Opera_Vol_II_Album_-_13_I_Wanna_be_a_Machine
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