New Year, New Adventure

Well everyone, here we are again; on the edge of adventure. Beginning the new year with a silent plea for the grand by diving headfirst into the past made present.

I cannot tell you how excited I am to be off again. To explore, to be cold and giggling like a child experiencing the first snow of the year. To wander streets I've never seen in cities where everyone speaks a language I can't understand. To feel utterly alone and yet know that I am not. After a year where I have often questioned what God is calling me to do--I am excited for this chance for a freezing fresh start.

In the past few days I have been thinking a lot about what it means to look at our problems through God as opposed to seeing God through our problems. And as I consider this upcoming adventure I am reminded of what I know will come. The feelings of possibility, of fresh chances, and most encouragingly, renewed mindsets. I am eager to once again come face to face with the reality that I can do anything, and that truly, the only thing holding me back is whether or not I believe that. And so I pray that as I land on foreign ground, that I am able to step back from the worries and frustrations I have of my future. That I see them through the new eyes. That I would be reminded that I serve a God of possibility. A God who calms storms but also a God who calls us both to them and through them. A God who can do IMMEASURABLY more than I can ever imagine.

This trip will be a whirlwind of the most glorious kind. Full of old friends, new places, strange foods, lovely languages, and the snowy quiet of Europe in Winter. Along the way I'll be seeing friends I met in Oz, Thailand, NZ and Germany. All of whom I've never seen in their "real" lives and some of which I haven't seen in almost 10 years.  I am SO pumped for every piece of this trip; but, getting to see people I haven't seen in ages to reminisce on the old while simultaneously taking in the new is utter perfection. And as I sit in my own state of general uncertainty, I am eager to experience the joys of life that come with communing with old friends in their present moments. The reminder that life marches forward and moving with it doesn't mean I'm leaving everything behind.

I will be off to Europe for about 3 weeks. Roughly here's what we're looking at:

US > Reykjavik >London
London >Ghent/Bruges/Brussels
Brussels >Maastricht/Amsterdam
Amsterdam >Prague
Prague > Vienna
Vienna > Munich
Munich > London
London > US


So I will attempt to update as I can, but may end up doing a little post-adventure blogging upon my return depending on time/computer access. Until then--

I don't know what this coming year holds. I don't know where I'll be or what I'll be doing. And yet I know that I have been granted passions for a reason. That God has given us gifts and talents and joys to be used in order to allow His love and glory to shine brighter wherever life may find us. So here's to this new year. To adventures the world over, to laughing with friends and loving people more deeply. To creating community wherever we are and seeing joy in small moments. But more than anything, here's to seeing our fears through the possibility that lies in God's omnipotence.

Love you all dearly! Cheers to this wonderful new year!

"I hereby command you: be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."
Joshua 1:9 

Fatherly Love

It's crazy how much more aware of your relationships you become when you go abroad. People that meant a lot back home find their place among the very important or time-justifyingly distant. But, when it comes to family there is nothing but awe (at least in the case of myself) for how much perspective you are given on your relationships with them and their impact on your life.

Recently, a distant cousin of my father passed away. Now I have no idea how this works in other families, but for my father, such events mean sending an email with some general background on what happened, and how we are related to the person. So this distant cousin who my sisters and I barely remember got an email. But in this email, my father proceeded to give us not only the history of how we were related to her but also his memory of her. He wrote of her joy and enthusiasm for life, as well as her general goodness to those around her. Simple words; but unendingly powerful.

I have always respected my dad, but today I was brought to tears by that email. That this funny, crazy father of mine, has underneath all of his ridiculousness a deep kindness and caring for those around him. I cannot quite put into words the loving intensity that I found in that simple email. That, upon hearing the news one of his is first thoughts was to take the time to write out a letter to his daughters so that we too, could hear the story of her passing and know that though she my be a relative stranger, a good woman was gone.

His note made me hope for two things. One is to both be and marry someone one day with that depth of kindness. Someone that sees the beauty in the people around them and wants to share it with others. And two, I hope I may live a life worthy of such an email one day. That when I pass on some distant friend or relative upon getting the news conjures up thoughts of my joy and enthusiasm. That I may bring some sort of light to the lives of others and that if nothing else I stand as a reminder to them of some good time and the wonder that is this world around us.

My dad finshed his email to us girls with this thought:

"So--live to the fullest.  Be good and be happy.  If you ever have to choose between the two, be good. 

             love,  Dad"

And that dad, is exactly what I intend. Thank you for the reminder.

'If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge,and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.' 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

                                                        

Sydney Starters

At the beginning of the week it rained, and I thought to myself this is good. Rain is the start of an adventure. Always the start of an adventure.But, the week went on and the adventure didn't seem to come. Things happened. I met people. I went out. I had fun. But, in all of it there was an underlying loneliness. My adventure felt meaningless and boring because I had no one to really share it with. And, I reminded myself that was just rain. Rain doesn't start adventures, it takes storms for real change to happen. So, I prayed over and over that God would help my adventure to start, or at least make a bit more sense. 

Today, something changed:

1. I signed for an apartment

2. I got a call back for a job interview

3. I skyped my sister (who witnessed the second one happen)

4. I got to ride a vespa around the city with this kid
5. I went out to a concert with people and made plans for tomorrow

Tonight, it rained again. But this time, it stormed. And somehow I feel settled again. I haven't moved into my apartment yet, and I don't actually have a job, but tonight it stormed. And really that was all needed as a reminder. God's little push that he's watching and the adventure is still yet to come.

Psalms 25:16-17

Turn to me and be gracious to me,

for I am lonely and afflicted.

 Relieve the troubles of my heart

and free me from my anguish.

Matthew 8:24-26

Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”

 He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.