I’m leaving Georgia.
This departure of mine, of course, comes when I have finally gotten to a point of familiarity in my life again.
With the constant flux that have been my life for the last few years, I have learned to cherish these moments of belonging.
Growing up it was much too easy to under appreciate the feeling of being known, of belonging somewhere.
I grew up in a family who had known me my whole life. Being homeschooled meant there was hardly a moment alone. Every experience I had was shared by another. They knew me well.
When I started public school I was surrounded by the same classmates day after day. The kid I passed in the hallway was my biology partner the year before, the girl sitting next to me at lunch, cheated off me on a math test in 8th grade. They were always the same.
I remember my junior year of High school walking into my broadcasting class a couple minutes late, carrying a big plate of ginger bread cookies for everyone. I opened the classroom door, and found my class sitting in the darkened room watching a film, a substitute teacher perched in the corner. Everyone’s faces turned to me, and I heard a couple people proclaim ‘Deirdre!’ I smiled back and called out ‘I brought cookies!’ raising the plate high in the air, I was received with a cheer from my class.
Completely ignoring the fact that I had disrupted the entire class, I turned to the sub grinning, and told him that I was in fact, was Deirdre. His response was a bitter ‘yeah, I got that.’ But his lack of enthusiasm was easily overlooked because I was known. I belonged. I had a place.
Years passed, and I found myself signing up for a crazy adventure, traveling all over the world with complete strangers. I was leaving everything and everyone I knew to head out into the unknown.
At first it was hard and unsettling, but as time passed I began to find out that even though we changed locations every month, my squad had become mine. They became my familiarity.
They knew my stories, and my idiosyncrasies. They knew I had a certain voice when I was excited, and a grouchy morning face. My team leader even knew that I drink my coffee warm not hot, and would give me his coffee if it had cooled down too much. I was known.
Then I left the race, and once again left my familiar for a new beginning, just this time it was in Georgia. I was living with complete strangers (once again…) and working in an office environment that was completely alien to me after my year spent in third world countries.
But without even thinking about it I found myself slipping into a routine here, falling in love with the people in my office, and spending endless night laughing with my roommates. Until I found myself driving down our windy driveway toward the office this last week, and smiling, thinking of all the people inside who knew me and loved me.
The man in my office who filled up my coffee mug without me even having to ask, the people in my leadership class who know I always have candy in my desk, and are comfortable enough to just sneak in and eat it all.
All of these moments, interactions, reminded me of one truth.
I belong. I have a family here. A group of people who will laugh at me for falling into the lake one second, but run and grab me an extra pair of dry clothes the next. I feel known.
And yet I hear the call of the Lord yet again. Calling me away, calling me deeper. I hear his voice telling me to cherish these moments because they are numbered. Adventure is ahead of me.
The unknown, destined to become familiar. Strangers destined to become family.
As I prepare to leave I do so with I heavy heart. I know I am going to miss my new family desperately. But I am also leaving with my heart full and my eyes pointed to heaven.
I am Expectant, Knowing that a new family, a new familiar, a new place of belonging that’s just around the corner, and is going to be just as amazing as this one was.
I am leaving my familiar here in Georgia to head to Thailand where I know that the Lord will once again give familiarity.
I am spending the four months of summer in Chiang Mai Thailand working with Lighthouse in Action ministries, helping women stuck in human trafficking.
It’s going to be hard, and scary, and amazing.
I would love for your continual prayer and support as I prepare for the next stretch in this crazy adventure of a life that the Lord has me on.
If you feel like the lord is calling you to help make a difference in the lives of those trapped in human trafficking please click HERE to donate to me! I need a total of only $3000 dollars for the four months I am going to be in Thailand.
If you would like to receive one of my update letters please message me with your address HERE.
I’m leaving one familiarity or a future one.
So is life.
What people in your life can you be thankful for today that truly know you, which moments have reminded you that you are seen, appreciated and belong?
