it's that time of year again. the time when my heart sinks with every reminder that things are ending. a heavy reminder of incoming change. it's scary. every time. and yet, as hard this time of year is for me, there always appears a steady sense of hope.
today i stood with Alexi at a window on 9th floor of towers, overlooking Eau Claire and the valley. some girls had already moved out on the opposite side, which made for a good spot for watching people meander around campus. from our vantage I spotted mt. simon, the masonic temple, banbury and everything in between. living on top of a crest of a valley, it is not too often that I welcome in the view of the Chippewa Valley. as the year has come to a close (only a few days left, can you believe it?), my tendency to reflect and become contemplatively sentimental has sky-rocketed. I never enjoy leaving places that are home . . . but there is joy too in recognizing and being thankful for the reasons that a place feels so welcoming. that is Eau Claire for me.
a few for which i am thankful:
- for a valley full of rivers, bridges and paths bursting with trees that somehow my school lives in
- for the ability to learn about a city through running - not only its structure and shape, but also its character. i want to know Eau Claire well. there is something about knowing the inside and out of the place you live- from the landmarks to all the hidden gems.
- for each day with my dear friends that I can call one of the greats. that has become a landmark phrase for me that has represented significant and adventurous times with ones that i cherish the most. nights such as:
- swing dancing in minneapolis, a night of national prayer with francis chan & kari jobe, exploring irvine & the falls, worshiping under the stars on 'top of the world' at mountain simon around a fire for lex's birthday, celebrating nate's bachelor-day with kickball, pizza and laughs, and of course, each time we "get the boys back together."
- for the ways that Logan K. has mentored, discipled and found joy with me this semester. meeting with him each week has been so needed- that man is so caring and genuine, and he has taught me what it looks like to truly be a servant. hearing his stories about his current ( and future!! ) family have been so warming.
yesterday a good friend Laura T. visited town. she's a brave soul that's been across the world in Germany as a TorchBearer. i think she is one that I know who is the most gifted in truly knowing people. she visited Taylor and I for about 30 mins, but it felt like it was both 5 minutes as well as an hour. figure that out. Laura shared with us that she has recognized that its been a hard year, due to conversations she's had with a lot of our friends. she then went on to talk about stage of life, of the transition from college and how the last years are pretty hard those younger to understand, due to the amount of unique growth that occurs. though I'm not graduating, I feel as if I have accumulated similar feelings from those who are. Especially with leaving a place that has been home (Towers) for a new place next year. Laura seemed to hit it straight on the head with how my semester has gone. I think I've been clinging to those good friends who've been experiencing something similar too.
last week I expressed some hardship to Justin W., concerning fears of friends leaving. He gave me two worlds that represent that full right now. Its a hard gift. It's a gift from the LORD to be so invested and reconciled with others to the point of feeling close to them. But that is what often makes it so difficult to leave. How odd would it be if leaving was easy? Would I feel like I left anything behind?
as this week closes, as hard transitions occur, people leave, an overwhelming sense of anxiety usually accompanies. through the difficulty of watching dear friends transition as well, I feel as if the LORD has been reminding me that He is the ever-constant in this equation. much will change, but He will remain true; as loving, compassionate and faithful as He ever will be. and though that can be often hard to tightly hold on to, perhaps He is the steady hope that I have right now.
today i stood with Alexi at a window on 9th floor of towers, overlooking Eau Claire and the valley. some girls had already moved out on the opposite side, which made for a good spot for watching people meander around campus. from our vantage I spotted mt. simon, the masonic temple, banbury and everything in between. living on top of a crest of a valley, it is not too often that I welcome in the view of the Chippewa Valley. as the year has come to a close (only a few days left, can you believe it?), my tendency to reflect and become contemplatively sentimental has sky-rocketed. I never enjoy leaving places that are home . . . but there is joy too in recognizing and being thankful for the reasons that a place feels so welcoming. that is Eau Claire for me.
a few for which i am thankful:
- for a valley full of rivers, bridges and paths bursting with trees that somehow my school lives in
- for the ability to learn about a city through running - not only its structure and shape, but also its character. i want to know Eau Claire well. there is something about knowing the inside and out of the place you live- from the landmarks to all the hidden gems.
- for each day with my dear friends that I can call one of the greats. that has become a landmark phrase for me that has represented significant and adventurous times with ones that i cherish the most. nights such as:
- swing dancing in minneapolis, a night of national prayer with francis chan & kari jobe, exploring irvine & the falls, worshiping under the stars on 'top of the world' at mountain simon around a fire for lex's birthday, celebrating nate's bachelor-day with kickball, pizza and laughs, and of course, each time we "get the boys back together."
- for the ways that Logan K. has mentored, discipled and found joy with me this semester. meeting with him each week has been so needed- that man is so caring and genuine, and he has taught me what it looks like to truly be a servant. hearing his stories about his current ( and future!! ) family have been so warming.
yesterday a good friend Laura T. visited town. she's a brave soul that's been across the world in Germany as a TorchBearer. i think she is one that I know who is the most gifted in truly knowing people. she visited Taylor and I for about 30 mins, but it felt like it was both 5 minutes as well as an hour. figure that out. Laura shared with us that she has recognized that its been a hard year, due to conversations she's had with a lot of our friends. she then went on to talk about stage of life, of the transition from college and how the last years are pretty hard those younger to understand, due to the amount of unique growth that occurs. though I'm not graduating, I feel as if I have accumulated similar feelings from those who are. Especially with leaving a place that has been home (Towers) for a new place next year. Laura seemed to hit it straight on the head with how my semester has gone. I think I've been clinging to those good friends who've been experiencing something similar too.
last week I expressed some hardship to Justin W., concerning fears of friends leaving. He gave me two worlds that represent that full right now. Its a hard gift. It's a gift from the LORD to be so invested and reconciled with others to the point of feeling close to them. But that is what often makes it so difficult to leave. How odd would it be if leaving was easy? Would I feel like I left anything behind?
as this week closes, as hard transitions occur, people leave, an overwhelming sense of anxiety usually accompanies. through the difficulty of watching dear friends transition as well, I feel as if the LORD has been reminding me that He is the ever-constant in this equation. much will change, but He will remain true; as loving, compassionate and faithful as He ever will be. and though that can be often hard to tightly hold on to, perhaps He is the steady hope that I have right now.