By Esther James
We’re settling into our second semester routine, so here’s a glimpse into what we’ve been up to over the past weekend. You’d be surprised at we can fit into four days.
Friday began with breakfast with my mentor catching up after break. It’s wild that people volunteer to mentor us without knowing who we are. I’m so grateful for these mentors and their wisdom and insight that they bring into our lives.
After breakfast, we heard from several guest speakers who shared about the way God has been working in their lives and throughout their careers. Throughout January, we’ve heard from speakers representing a variety of industries. In all these talks, there’s one common theme: God is good and, even when it doesn’t seem like He’s present, He is. As we face the question of “what’s next?” we’re reminded that while we don’t know where we’ll be four months from now, God does, and we can trust Him. We’ve seen His faithfulness in the past, and we’ll see it in the future even still.
Afterward, we packed up our cars and headed for Canaan Valley in West Virginia for a weekend of skiing. We landed in a small town and got a taste of this little ski town that hosted us for the weekend before closing the night with a game of Settlers of Catan, a group favorite.
Saturday morning, we loaded up on a hearty breakfast and then hit the slopes (figuratively and literally). We had a mix of experienced and new skiers in our group. Speaking on behalf of the second group, I’d like to give a huge shout-out to our friends who taught us with lots of patience. Despite the cold and rain, we stuck it out and walked (read: limped) away with some great memories.
Sunday started at church worshipping together before heading to serve in our respective classrooms with the children’s and student ministries. The family with whom Mollie teaches Sunday school invited some of us to their home for a fantastic lunch and afternoon of games. My day ended at D-group with the 7th grade girls as we discussed what it means to be with Jesus and to embrace that relationship.
Monday morning, I met with my peer counseling group at a coffee shop. These are groups of three Fellows who get to meet throughout the semester, creating a space for listening and vulnerability. We’ve come a long way from when we first met in August, learning to let one another into both the good and the hard parts of our lives.
After another guest speaker, we went to Silver Diner to celebrate Nathalie’s birthday. We’re big fans of celebrating birthdays and the fact that God has given us this year with one another. We had the afternoon off to go grocery shopping, meet friends for coffee, and edit resumes before reuniting for Round Table. Carter Berry and Sarah Frances made some delicious kabobs that preceded that night’s discussion on the ways that God relates to the world. As our director John Kyle says, “God is beautifully complicated.” Often life seems frustratingly complicated, especially when we don’t know what’s ahead. But our beautifully complicated God calls and invites us to trust Him with it all. It’s as simple and as complicated as that. Trust.
A lot of days feel ordinary. We’ve got our routines, found our favorite lunch spots, and figured out the best routes to work. But from the routine to the unexpected, we get to trust God with our lives and find rest in Him. He’s invited each of us to trust Him, and He invites you to rest in His love as well.
Pictures from the Week
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