One month ago, I packed up my belongings and set out on my latest adventure with God--Graduate School. Over 300 miles later, I ended up in Rochester, NY. For the past few years, it feels like I have been migrating from place to place. Undergrad to home and now to NY. With each change, comes the inevitable transition. New friends, new experiences, new challenges are all a part of change. Normally, change is tough for me. I ache for some "normalcy" and can't wait to break into a regular pattern of life. Somehow though, this transition has been different.
I have been praying for months about my decision to come to Rochester. Deep inside, I knew this would be a huge leap of faith. To be far from the comfort of family and friends, I would only have one constant--God! And yet, this longing to just draw closer to God in this adventure continued to grow as I got closer to leaving. Now, as I'm here, I am thrilled about the experiences that God will place before me. I believe in a purpose for being here. While I do not know exactly why and may never know until I get to heaven, I am excited about it all. I'm excited for each morning to wake up and say, "Okay Lord, it's just you and me. Lead me where you need me to go, and show me where I can best grow. Grant me your grace and allow me to be vulnerable with you and others, so that we can develop a spiritual intimacy with you."
Coming to Rochester has been like a completely new start. Never before have I been in a place where no one knows me. No one has preconceived notions about who I am. I am not immediately the shy girl, the planner, or the youngest child. Here, I am free to be me, set a part from any labels that have previously been placed upon me.
I can truly say that it is only because of God that this transition has gone so well. While there have been plenty of days of longing for friends and family from home, it is always overcome by the expectancy that God is greater than my immediate desires. His perspective is so much greater than mine and the lonely moments will be overcome with busy and happy moments too. I am thankful for the few friends that I have already met and I anticipate the new friends that I will make. I am grateful for my friends at home who journey through life with me from afar.
So now, as the Grad assignments grow and study time increases, I want to praise God for these moments; the opportunity to come to such a great institution and learn how to best serve others in need and to grow in diligence. It may not be fun, but it is necessary for me. Sometimes I worry whether I have made the right choice coming to Grad school full time. But, any time spent with God, is never time wasted.
Rochester is my place between places. It is not my past left at home and it is not my final destination. I pray that I will live out my calling as a Christian, each day in the here and now. Here's to the ordinary, everyday people that will accompany me on this journey. Here's to the joyous and the hard times. And here's to the inevitable life lessons to come.
"Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up and the time comes."
Matthew 6 The message
(This is a verse I read in my devotions this morning. Quite fitting, I think)
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