Month 2!!! To whoever is reading this, welcome back! I am here to report that Raleigh Fellows is still one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. This month, we spent three weekends in Lake Gaston, dove into our classes for the semester, worked many hours, became even better friends, read lots, and played copious amounts of Rummikub. At times this program has left my soul full, energized, joyous, and full of purpose, yet at other times, I have felt overwhelmed, tired, and unsure. I think there is something beautiful about the simultaneous existence of both of these things. It is intriguing the way this program reveals my humanity, my dependence on God, my inability to do everything, and the limited capacity I bring to each day. Yet, it is by these revelations that I am able to learn, grow, and become more like the person of Jesus and for that, I am grateful.
I am learning to be prayerful about what I say “yes” to and I am also learning that that gets increasingly harder as I want to spend more and more time with the awesome friends I’m making. I am learning that I really enjoy working, something I never thought was possible. I am learning that a walk around Shelly Lake is good for the soul and that Sola is the best coffee shop in Raleigh. I am learning that Prayer Partner time is sacred and that Roundtable nights are my favorite night of the week. I’ve learned a lot more than that, but I’ll spare you! I am pumped to keep learning!
My song this month is one that I have listened to many times before but feels very fitting - “Never See the End” by Mission House. This song is fitting for a few reasons, one being the lyric: “We will never see the end of Your goodness”. This month, I have seen so much of the Lord’s goodness and it truly feels like it never ends. Day after day I experience His love in a new way, His grace in a new friendship, or His faithfulness in a hard moment. Constantly, I feel overwhelmed by the goodness that surrounds me and I have yet to see the end. This song is also fitting because at times, I feel like I will never see the end of the tasks on my to-do list, the plans on my calendar, or the pages I have to read for homework. Yet, maybe the point isn’t to see the end, but to find purpose and joy in that seemingly never-ending process.
Well, there you have it! 2 months in Raleigh and 2 months as a Fellow. I am excited to share all of the things I learn, people I meet, hikes I go on, and songs I listen to in month 3.
See ya!
- Lilly
