Salt and Light

Lots of my non-seminary friends have asked me what it is like to pick up your family and leave for a three year period. What is it like to start your life again once you've been established in a place professionally and personally? What will it be like when your spouse is 'done' with seminary? Where will you be in five years? The answer to those things have changed over the past year. At times life was super awesome. Other times, it was really rough going. I've loved and missed. I've laughed until my sides hurt. I've cried until there were no more tears. It's been messy and beautiful. It's been one foot in and one foot out. It's been a growing edge and it's been content.

As we pass the one year mark today I think some reflection is always a good thing. This past year I've been so fortunate to have support from afar. I've always had people who I could text late at night (that time change comes into handy sometimes) and tell my woes to. I've had friends here who became framily. They made this transition bearable. We've struggled to find a church home. To find what we had so abundantly in Reno. We've succeeded and we haven't. The VIT and I have had many opportunities to explore this new challenge together. It's been good.

Along with reflection it's always good to set out some objectives for the coming year and beyond. This year I hope we continue to build our community here. We continue to show radical hospitality. That we continue to nurture and cherish our framily near and far. And that we continue to grow into our future. On the tough days that we remember we have an ocean of love waiting for us and to give to others. On the good days that we remember that those are the ones worth living for. And to remember that change is the only constant. And to remember that in all things, to be grateful. Give thanks for all that is.