One thing about me is that I love endings.
It sounds so wrong, but there’s something about a chapter closing that brings me so much joy and gratitude. Maybe it’s the fresh perspective? All the little annoyances and inconveniences fall away. Everything feels especially meaningful. Reflections on growth and progress abound, highlighting God’s faithfulness and closeness throughout the year.
The last few weeks have been the sweetest time in my whole year in fellows. Classes have been rich, side quests have been abundant, relationships with God and others have felt so secure and fulfilling.
Yet I still feel so much sadness that these things are ending. No matter how hard I tried, it’s impossible to take in the full value of the program in the moment. But now as I look back, I reflect on how precious our classes, roundtables, retreats, and fieldtrips were. I had so many wise people at my disposal this year, and was exposed to more rich content than I could ever hope to fully absorb.
I’m going to desperately miss going to class on Mondays & Fridays and having the full attention and energy of pastors and leaders pouring into us. I’m going to miss host family debriefs and daily rhythms and routines with them. Selfishly, I’m going to miss having Ashley to ourselves, knowing that we are unfortunately being replaced next year (very rude) (hope that no 2027 Fellows are reading this).
But I’m SO excited for all that is to come! We’ve talked all year about setting a trajectory for our lives. Not a life plan or a play-by-play, but a vision for the kind of life we want to live, and how to take steps toward that. And I’m so ready to begin executing! I’m ready to intentionally pursue community, lean fully into my church and network, and take action! I’m very much a trial-and-error kind of person, and I want to put everything that I’ve gained this year to the test.
And what beautiful examples I have for living life well! I get to follow in the footsteps of my mentor, host family, thriving young adult community, and countless others!
Wow this is so intimidating to write. I feel like I’m writing my own eulogy, but I already did that, so I need to chill. I have so much more reflecting to do, but this has been a great start. Maybe I’ll pop in this summer and put more thoughts into the void (does anyone read these?). Anyways, I need to stop and postpone this freak out until later.
Thanks be to God for endings and beginnings and seasons and transitions. May He bless these precious last two weeks!
Love you all,
Maddie Grace