Excited to be back with you talking about all of the things that are going on over here in Raleigh!
Now you might be wondering what my title is all about, don’t worry I won't keep you guessing. This past month I went back to JMU for homecoming weekend and got to spend 48 hours with some of my most favorite people who know me best. The weekend was spent at my college house with no agenda, hours of catching up and sitting in the hammock on the porch that held so much significance for me the past couple years. I felt myself reconnecting with my spirit as I embraced close friends, sipped my favorite coffee in town, and watched strangers walk the streets that hold so many reminders of my conversations & pains & joys. During a quick visit with two of my college housemates to see one of our other friends at work, I saw a sign that stuck out to me for some reason, reading “when the roots are deep, there is no reason to fear the wind.” Now, normally I would giggle at a cheesy quote like that, dismissing it and moving on, but it struck me. My life is full of winds! I realized while being in my most comfortable place that it hadn’t always been so comfortable - I had once been blown around by the winds of newness, stumbling around trying to find someone or something to anchor me in Harrisonburg. The reason I got to relish in the sweetness and familiarity of that weekend is because I had met someone (God!) who rooted me down in friendships & identity & ministry & scattered sacred places. My life here in Raleigh is all windy & breezy & wild. I’m wrestling with who I am - what is the design of my soul, what do I lean on, what framework I view this world through, and just about a million other things. I have no idea the purpose of my life, where the Lord is asking me to serve him vocationally after this year, or what it looks like to navigate this life. I’m having to sit with how to reconcile my broken views of community and my misplaced hope in the dreams of my life. But, I’m getting rooted. The winds are so present, I feel them all around me but recently I don’t fear them! Friendships are starting to take shape and this city is beginning to feel a little bit more like mine. If I pay attention, I can recognize the little ways I’m being formed through this experience and boy do I love getting a glimpse of my father’s work in me and around me! So yes, a cheesy quote underneath a painted tree on a piece of burlap spoke to me - don’t judge me, sometimes God works in silly little ways.
So as you can probably tell I’m just loving it here. l’m thankful that this life that feels somehow brand new and worn in all at the same time is mine! There are many, many things that have been going on in the lives of us fellows but we have limited space here so you’re just going to have to shoot me a text or give me a call if you want to hear all of them!! This is just a taste of all of the good and challenging things going on.
Things I’m absolutely loving this month!
The fall! Loving a sweater moment, loving the crunch of leaves beneath my shoes, loving fall colors, and loving the holiday season peaking around the corner
Finding joy in little tiny moments - life is real great right now, but busy, so the little tiny moments are holding lots of goodness for me
My job! There probably won’t be a month that I’m not absolutely in love with my job, so get used to this one. I get to see little mini images of God running around trying to figure out how to communicate and learn and it feels like an extra special way I get to feel the Lord’s love Tuesday-Thursday
Bible class. Friday mornings we have an Old Testament class and I kind of leave in awe every week at how much we learn
My sister lived in Raleigh when I moved here two months ago but just moved to D.C. a couple weeks ago. We didn’t think we would get this month and a half crossover which made it so sweet and packed full of seeing each other. I miss her! This month I felt super grateful for time in the same city and getting to live a life where my sisters are two of my best friends.
My fellow fellows who are now my friends! I all of a sudden have lots of friends and we’re starting to see each other’s belovedness. There’s some type of magic stirring and I’m so eager to see it grow. Jim Branch describes community in his Blue Book, saying “somehow, mysteriously, abundance is created. The sum of the whole becomes much greater than the sum of the parts. It is sheer delight, for somehow, as the gifts are being given, they renew themselves, even as they are being poured out.” (forgive me for not giving you the APA citation for this, but you get the gist) I LOVE THEM
Making my coffee every morning with my moka pot espresso maker - go ahead, add it to your cart!
Meeting friends of friends, this happens like every day and its soooo fun
Lots more I could say but I’m cutting myself off now! Bye for now.
With love, Reagan!
Some of the gals doing one of our favorite things - getting coffee and chatting!
My sister Amelia and I the night before she moved.
Some of my housemates on our college house’s porch!