May 7th was the day that everything changed. It was the day I graduated from college. It was the day I moved out of my apartment. It was the day I realized I wouldn't get to see my incredible church family again. It was the day I said goodbye to my best friends. It was the day I left Nashville. It was the day I said goodbye to my family. It was the day I knew I had to grow up.
You see, God had planned it out a few months prior to this day, May 7th. Despite the fact that I earned my degree in Elementary Education, the Lord called me to be a youth minister. In Memphis, TN. Yep, Memphis; a city of which I knew hardly anything. A thus begins my "Story of New."
New #1: Moving to a new city. This wasn't THAT big of a deal for me. I had moved (temporarily) to new cities every summer in college when I was interning. However, this is a permanent move...which I still don't think has completely hit me yet...
New #2: Going to a new church. I've been blessed to worship with my immediate family at Ethos in Nashville over the past two years. I knew it was special when it was happening, but now having been away for four months, I realize just how incredible it was. But Highland is a wonderful church family, and I'm so blessed to love on these people like my own family.
New #3: Realizing differences in intern and youth minister. Sometimes I feel really inadequate for this job. Then I realize that I AM inadequate and that God wants me that way. Because when I am inadequate then I cannot rely on my own power and knowledge, but only on the Lord's. (He's so smart.)
New #4: Not going to IMPACT. You may be thinking, "So what?" or "Get over yourself." and you're right. The world didn't end because I wasn't at IMPACT, but it was difficult not being apart of something that has been vital for the past 19 years of my life. But God is still good, and He was glorified not only at IMPACT but at Camp Highland as well.
New #5: Not living with my best friends. Not gonna lie...this one sucks.
New #6: Not going back to school. On August 18, I went into my office when everything I knew was telling me that I should be hanging out in the square on Lipscomb's campus or freezing my butt of in class (because you know it's always freezing inside when it's hot outside). I'm sure many college graduates are going through this as well... it's called adult life. Guess we better get used to it.
New #7: Looking for a House. This is not as much fun as I hoped it would be. Don't get me wrong, it is fun getting to dream up what my place will look like once I've settled in and decorated. But the actual searching and dealing with rent and everything else...eh...not my fav.
New #8: Reading The Hunger Games. I just had to add this because I am obsessed with these books. Suzanne Collins is an excellent author. If you haven't, go read them now.
New #9: Losing a Loved One. Death is an interesting thing. It's weird. I don't think we can fully understand it here on earth. With that being said, one thing I do understand is that the body in the casket was not my Grannie. Yes, it somewhat resembled her, but I realized that the spirit is so much more of the person than the body. Better yet, the spirit IS the person and the body is NOTHING. The Lord provided me and my family with a lot of peace with that thought. And though I am confident that at 10:42am on Monday, August 22, Grannie Rose was completely healed as she entered Heaven's Gates, still a small, selfish part of me hurts that she is gone. But it is through this new pain that I discovered #10....
New #10: Realizing I Have a Prayer in Memphis. I can't tell you the amount of texts, emails, Facebook posts, tweets, calls, cards, and flowers I received from Highland members. A lot of those being the teenagers that I work with. Wow. Talk about feeling the Lord's presence. I know these people have my back. I know they are calling on someone greater than themselves to love me. I know they love me. And I love them back.
And I love you. Please know that you've got a prayer in Memphis too.
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