Change

This past week while house sitting, I've had a lot of time to be alone and let me tell you, its been awesome! With moving and starting a new job in student ministry, alone time is a lot more difficult to come by these days. My life looks a lot different than it did just 4 short months ago, going from being in college to adulthood. Needless to say, I am in a major season of change. Not all bad or all good, but just simply change. I think the one thing I'm learning right now is even good change is really
hard.

College was the time of my life. I loved my college experience and miss it a lot, especially my senior year. I lived with my 3/4 best friends, the others being just down the street or a phone call away. We had an incredible house (The Palace) and threw the best themed parties for our friends anyone could imagine. I wouldn't trade that time for anything but I knew it would all have to eventually end. So I graduated college, moved from Nashville to Houston, and started a 3 month long internship, all within one week. Talk about change. From May 9th until about August 19th, I did not stop. It was the hardest but best summer of my life and now I am permanently in Houston living the post-grad dream.

Recently, I started my first big kid job working as a High School Girls Associate for Second Baptist Church at the West Campus in Katy, Texas. It really is my dream job in student ministry and every day I feel blessed that I get to be apart of the Second team. Not to mention, I know I am pretty lucky to love what I am doing right out of college. With a new job comes a new home. So I moved from the infamous Music City, Nashville, where I spent not only the last 4 years but the best 4 years of my life. Coming back to Texas has been very bittersweet. I love being closer to my family but man fall in Texas has nothing on fall in Nash. I miss the cool, crisp mornings and the unreal color change of the leaves. Let's be honest, fall in Nashville is pretty hard to beat. Leaving Nashville also meant leaving some of the best friends and people I have ever known. I think in the midst of all the change, leaving my people has been the hardest part. Now, they are spread out all around the world, literally. Some are still in Nash or in college, some moved to Chattanooga, Memphis, Oklahoma, Georgia, and one is currently in month two of the World Race in Nicaragua. Communication is not necessarily my strong suite so adapting to distance has definitely been a challenge, as well as just another change to add to the list. Not to mention, since I am now an "adult", I am also financially independent from my parents. Obviously that is a big change for anyone but for me, it basically means I have to lessen my online shopping and not buy as much Patagonia as I would like. All of these changes are not bad. It has been hard but like I said before even good change is hard. Honestly, being on my own is kind of fun. Everyday there is a different challenge to face and yes it is a lot of change but it's fun growing up and having responsibilities other than homework.

Change is the theme word in this season of my life. It really is inevitable and sometimes I don't want to deal with the fact that things are different. I think when I moved, I felt as though I had to replace everything Nashville had to offer. I felt like I had to replace my friend group, my favorite hang outs, my favorite things to do and places to eat as well as much more. Although, slowly but surely, I am realizing that to not be the truth. My time in Nash was sweet and though it is over, it is not something I have to replace or forget. My friends are still my friends, Burger Up and Taqueria del Sol (my two favorite restaurants) are still thriving on 12th South, and all my favorite coffee shops are not going out of business because I'm gone. Nash will always be a place I love to visit and may even someday call home again. That's really not in my control and I am completely okay with that. I think the Lord is telling me everyday to stop seeking replacements but to solely seek Him. I think He wants me to trust that He will provide because He has for the last 23 years of my life. He promises us that He works for the good of those who love Him and I have no option but to trust that. Of course, it is a lot easier said than done.

Don't get me wrong, I have loved my time in Houston. It is a change but it is slowly becoming more normal everyday. I can somewhat get around without using my GPS and I have become a local at a bagel place. I am thankful for the family that so graciously lets me live in their home, I am thankful for friends who are experiencing big life changes of their own, and I am thankful for every student that I get to hang out with every day. My job is awesome and I am learning that I have purpose here in Katy, now I just have to embrace it.

But what would life be without change? I mean when I think of change, I think of the ultimate life change that happens the moment you enter into a relationship with Jesus Christ. When Jesus calls us to follow Him, he doesn't say "Follow me and continue to live your life the way it is." No! He says follow me, leave everything you have ever known behind because I promise what I have to offer you is better than anything this world or anyone can offer. He asks us to embrace change because living a life for Him is completely worth it. This includes riding ourselves of bondage, shame, emptiness and guilt and beginning to walk into a new life of freedom, full of forgiveness, grace and experiencing a love we have never thought possible. It is the best change I have ever known and that is why I want to spend my life and time telling everyone I know about Him.

So here I sit, watching college football (Boomer Sooner & Go Vols) and One Tree Hill embracing the change that post grad has brought me. Change is good, often times necessary but still hard. I am excited for my time here in Katy and thankful for the opportunity to tell students and people about the ultimate life change, the best life change, that being having a relationship with Jesus Christ.