Standing on the dock, I dipped my little toes, all curled up with the chipped toe-nail polish, in the frigid lake this past weekend. (Earlier, actually, I plunged my whole foot in, up to my knee when we put the dock in, and it felt like an ice bath).
It was an excellent reminder of the swirling flood of emotions that comes with any next step. There is the thrill and excitement, the tiny twinge of worry that can stop you in your tracks in fear, the desire to both laugh and cry, to fall asleep for days and stay up all night in the security and certainty and the great unknown. How much of life can be summed up as paradox?
Good thing I like bittersweet. Really, the emotions come with the people, and I'll take it all. I miss people often from every stage of life. This is pretty normal, but farewells are still hard sometimes.
As you may realize, I am about to step off the dock and take the plunge. I am a recent graduate, heading out from Chicagoland, which truly became like home to me over the past few years, saying goodbye to Minnesota, my home, sweet home, and greeting another hogar (home) with open arms--Costa Rica.
Each of us has a unique call, a unique path along the straight and narrow, and, to apply the garage saler's mantra of, "One person's trash is another's treasure," what is adventurous or difficult to some is mundane and silly to others. And it is exciting to walk alongside one another for a time or a season and to glimpse parts of the journey. If you should care to stop in from time to time and join me, I'd be much obliged.
My next steps for adult life--living and working at La Palabra de Vida--I am a seventh and eighth grade English teacher. How this came about? It's all a part of the tapestry. A lot of trust, a lot of change. The wonderful thing to realize is that this piece ties together so much of my life thus far, and I hope to see and run toward what's next as it is laid out before me.
How it goes--the song I got to sing (Benji accompanied :)) for Marcell Community Church up in northern Minnesota this past weekend explains the daily nature of the call. So thankful for that place.
In the quiet, in the stillness, I know that you are God. In the secret of your presence I know there I am restored.
When you call, I won't refuse. Each new day, again I'll choose.
There is no one else for me, none but Jesus--crucified to set me free. Now I live to bring him praise.
In the chaos, in confusion, I know you're sovereign, still. In the moment of my weakness you give me grace to do your will.
When you call, I won't delay. This my song for all my days.
There is no one else for me, none but Jesus--crucified to set me free. Now I live to bring him praise.
All my delight is in you, Lord. All of my hope, all of my strength. All my delight is in you Lord, for evermore.
No hay nadie para mi, solo Cristo. Moriste por mi en la cruz. Viviré para alabar.
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