By Thomas Laughridge
This past Sunday marked the beginning of Advent, as well as the first time our Fellows class hasn’t been together for more than a few days. Our Thanksgiving break provided some much-needed rest—a healthy reset before entering the busy Christmas season. However, it did feel pretty odd to spend a week disconnected from the community, with whom I have spent almost all of my time the last few months. As I was driving back to McLean from southwest Virginia, I began to feel very excited to be back with everyone. In the past few days, I’ve continued to reflect on this feeling and the glimpse it provides of the greater community for which we wait.
Advent is all about the celebration of waiting. It’s a time where we can dwell in the truth that Jesus humbly came to us as a man, and that He will come again in all glory and power. Athanasius puts it beautifully in On the Incarnation: “He manifested Himself in the flesh, that we might grasp the idea of the unseen Father; and He endured the insolence of men, that we might inherit immortality.” Growing up, I don’t think I ever fully grasped how exciting this truth is! On the day of Jesus’ return, we will be finally and ultimately unified in community with Him and our fellow saints. During this time of year (and really all the time!), we should be overflowing with anticipation to experience the fullest communion with our Savior.
“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.’” (Revelation 21:3-4 ESV)
The community of Fellows has been such a blessing to me, and I already know that I will miss it dearly come the end of our year in May. It’s good to remember, though, that these seasons of longing for fellowship and communion are not a bad thing. They serve to remind us of the incompleteness that exists in each of us—that we were made for right relationship with God, and that none will be whole until He finally returns and calls us home.
Thomas Laughridge is a member of the Capital Fellows class of 2024-25. He is from Roanoke, VA, and is a graduate of the University of Virginia. This year, he is working at Everfox in Herndon, VA.
Pictures From The Week
Fellows Friendsgiving!
Guys Christmas photoshoot
Cramming into the car selfie
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About Capital Fellows. Capital Fellows is an advanced leadership and discipleship program for recent college graduates. Through graduate courses, a paid internship, one-on-one mentoring, and many leadership and community service opportunities, fellows develop and apply their gifts in real-world situations while learning to integrate a Christian worldview into all areas of life. Capital Fellows is a unique opportunity to live and work in the Washington DC area and to be an active member of a supportive community that seeks to serve the city with the love of Christ. It is also a unique opportunity to get hands-on experience in the workplace while deeply exploring God’s design for us as workers and contributors to human flourishing.
Pray for the Capital Fellows
The Capital Fellows have entered the home stretch of the fall semester—two more weeks and then some well-deserved time off. This is a busy season for them: papers to write for their seminary courses, personal assessments to complete, etc. Please be in prayer for them to finish well and even enjoy the reflection that writing the papers can provide.
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