I was at a small group the other night at my friend Alisha’s house. The group is currently studying through Captivating by John and Stasi Eldgridge. I read the book back when I was in high school, and again in college, but its been a while. It was pretty incredible to see how much of what the discussion that night brought up was right in line with things the Lord has been teaching me over the last year.
I’m still pretty young at 23, and I’m still trying to figure out a lot of stuff. I’m still asking myself those big questions—questions like ‘Who am I?’ ‘What do I have to offer the world?’ and ‘What is my destiny?’
As I’ve wrestled through some of these questions, I’ve had some incredible people in my life. People who have been there, not to answer the questions for me, but to encourage me on the journey. The biggest focus over the last year has been discovering who I am, and its been a pretty delicate and beautiful place to be.
I’ve found myself stepping away from things that I thought I liked to see if I actually liked them. I lived the last year with the rule of taking risks and stepping outside of my comfort zone. I’ve climbed trees that were way too tall, and spoken up in times I normally wouldn’t. I’ve lived in communities that have encouraged uniqueness. I’ve been free to be passionate about what I want to be passionate about, and to be me, as I discover who ‘me’ is.
Sitting in Alisha’s small group the other night gave me the opportunity to step back and see how far I’ve come in the process. And so, I proposed an idea. Inspired by Stephanie May Wilson’s blog series, we each spent time writing out our Loveliest Things—things that inspire us, comfort us, make us feel at home, things that are unique to us. For me, I got to take a step back and see how far I’ve come in the process of discovering myself.
And so, here are my Loveliest Things.
1. A Rainy Day. Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, I am no stranger to rain, and sometimes it can be a real drag. I feel a sense of loss when its storming outside and I have to run errands or go to work. Everything inside of me longs to be indoors, wearing my sweatpants, the fireplace on. Whether I’m playing a board game, watching a movie, or curled up alone with a book, a rainy day is an excuse to slow down and breathe, to see the beauty in my surroundings.
[a rainy Anacortes day; view from Cap Sante]
2. A Guitar in Open Tuning. I believe that there is a beauty in simplicity, and music captivates me like almost nothing else. To combine the two things is near perfection. There is a bright, hopefulness about an open-tuned guitar, every vibration of the strings a movement in harmony with one another to create a masterpiece. And yet, such a wondrous sound is created with so little effort. Beauty in simplicity.
3. An Unexpected Adventure. Whether its a quick trip to Snoqualmie Falls or a last minute drive across the state of Utah and back, I love spontaneous adventures. I love sitting in the car for hours on end, or visiting airport after airport. I love the unknown nature of it all, wondering where you’ll end up or who you’ll meet. I spent so much of my life making plans that never came to fruition. These days, I’m all about just seeing what God might have in store.
4. Dark Chocolate. Cliche, I know. But I love dark chocolate. And when I say dark chocolate, I mean dark. If I can get my hands on 90% dark chocolate, I’m a happy girl. Toss some nuts or coffee beans in there, even better. I may have a stash in my closet, in case of emergency.
5. Any Body of Water. I grew up on an island, so the ocean has been the landscape of my life. Spending most of the last three years off the island has been a change of pace for me, not being able to drive 10 minutes and hit water. Any time I come across a river, lake, or even a swamp, its like an unexpected gift for me to take in and explore. I’ve made declarations over my life at the foot of grand waterfalls and on the shores of vast lakes. The water is like the essence of God to me, vast, mysterious, and ready to be discovered.
[an unexpected adventure to Snoqualmie Falls, covering two of my loveliest things]
I think my favorite part of doing this exercise with Alisha’s small group was that none of us had the same answers. Each of us chose different things, because each of us are different, and unique, and lovely.
What are your Loveliest Things?
