Coming Home

Autumn has arrived, dear friends. She was a little slow to arrive this year, in my opinion and is still a little weak on her feet as summer temperatures still try to keep her from her full glory. But she is here. The yellow, orange and red hues have started to paint my drives from point to point. And the masterful maple tree in my backyard has adopted a golden glow.  It's quite radiant. 

Much has happened in the last 6 weeks for this girl. This entire year has been significantly full, to be honest. The shifting and changing and rooting has been close to radical. It's actually been hard to write about. To give you a sense of the last six weeks: 

• We concluded the 2nd year of the Institute in Mexico, graduating 18 kids between our first and Fellow program
• I came back to Fairfield County Connecticut after being in Mexico for 2 months 
• I closed on my first house 
• I moved into that first house 
• I stepped into a relationship with one of my best friends in the whole world and we have had to navigate long distance for a season
• I decided to step down, after 3 years, from my current job at the end of the year 
• I accepted the position of President of Hands Offering Hope to help lead the organization forward 

Just a few things. Haha. But just as it always is, God's timing has been impeccable. He knew that my soul needed a physical space where I could break bread and drink good coffee with people, with a beautiful maple tree to reflect on His creation and power and kind neighbors who would make sure my welcome sign was seasonally adorned. Because even in the shifting and changing, we have this stable foundation. Scenery changes. Furniture and art work changes. But the rooted, anchored love of God just does not.

And I know we say that a lot. It can even start sounding trite if we're not careful. But as I woke up this morning and went outside to look at this big tree, I was humbled once again by the reality that even though literally everything is changing around me, I don't have to be afraid, I don't have to be overwhelmed. I can feel those emotions. They are real. But, they aren't the end of the story. God has established His eternal reign. It's outside of my feeble hands. Nothing I can do can touch that truth. I am not capable of messing up the vision, heart and plan of the Almighty God. So I can inhale and exhale. I can step forward in His confidence (you know, the kind that doesn't shake or change) and realize that all of this is actually His to manage anyway.

I'm a huge fan of All Sons and Daughters and their new album is no exception. There's this great song that I've had on repeat, I Wait. These lyrics ring so true: 

Be still and rest secure, my soul 

He knows what's best for me 

Here in my patience lies the goal 

To wait and trust in Thee 

So I wait in the promise

I wait in hope 

Yes, I wait in the power 

Of God's unending love 

There are even more adventures ahead in the coming months - one which includes me having to sit still for six weeks in cast. (Yay!) But all of this is provided for, overseen and carried by the God who holds the universe. And in that truth, we can come and find home.