In a few short hours, I will move in, meet my casamates and begin orientation…I don’t feel like this is real life!
I’ve been on the road now for nine days, and I am so ready to be stationary (or at least unpacked!) for a little bit. All that said, I wouldn’t change my journey here in any way, shape or form.
I was reminded in a church yesterday of a phrase that buoyed me through my goodbye to STL in late May after graduation. I had just gotten back from a wine night with some study abroad friends and we encountered a literal conga line/brass band parade for a wedding party. The only thing we could do (naturally) was dance on the street and revel in the love that we were witnessing. All I could think of that night was James 1:2, consider it all joy.
Yes yes, that verse is in the context of considering trials and tribulations as joy, but what a convicting reminder to consider all of it, the good, the bad, and the scary, as a unique opportunity to tap into joy?
Consider it all joy:
1. The 2,337.6 miles in the car with my parents as we traveled through MA, NY, PA, OH, IN, IL, MO, AR, MS, LA, and TX
2. The countless friends who made room in their busy schedule to welcome me back to STL for the nanosecond that I was in town
3. The experience of driving in STL for the first time
4. Picnics in Tower Grove Park
5. Every. Single. Thing about Crave Coffeehouse
6. Seeing old friends in Lafayette
7. Meeting family in TX
8. 100+ degree weather
9. A 2nd Cup Coffee Shop
10. Open churches adjacent to parks that allow for an hour of respite and silence
11. Six lane highways (with Jetson’s level on and off ramps)
12. Wonky GPS directions
13. The terror of driving in a new place
14. Eating lunch alone
15. Friends who pick up the phone
16. Friends who let you crash at their apartment (for the second time!)
17. The fear of the unknown: at my job, at my house, in this new city
Consider it all joy.
The rollercoaster of “adulthood” is terrifying. There is no way around that. And as I was eating lunch by myself at a café inspired by Lord of the Rings, I was reading an article by Sarah Bessey (linked here) about the danger of sanitizing stories. While I cannot relate to the content of Bessey's story, this line went right through me:
“I had prepackaged it [the story] for consumption, leaving out the very darkness that gave the light its beauty” (Bessey).
That’s a promise I want to make to myself, right here, right now, in public to y’all so that I am held accountable. I do not intend to tell stories this year in a way that sanitizes them for consumption, nor do I intend to overdramatize them. I promise you will get nothing but honesty in this little corner of the internet, where questions are encouraged, and opinions are welcome.
I joked with two friends at the beginning of senior year Covid edition that we had two choices moving into the year:
1) We would figure it out.
2) We wouldn’t.
Only one of these answers is viable, and I find myself faced with the same choice now. I will figure this out (this being a whole number of things: driving, work, JVC, etc.) or I will not. Only one of these options is viable.
I am terrified. I am excited. I am ready. I am loved. Most of all, I am wildly grateful for all of the people who have loved me up to this point. I am here because of you. I can move forward because I know all of you are behind me. So, here’s to figuring it out, one day at a time.
Right here, in Christ,
Gabriela
Just a sample of the people and buildings that have become my home. Here's to finding new homes in HOU!
Being your father, chauffeur, sounding board, punching bag, and regular West Wing sidekick is a distinct pleasure.
There are very few who could get me to drive through 10 states to LEAVE you there. You know I would drive across an ocean to retrieve you.
Go get ‘em G! 💙