It is 1:45 am, approximately 1 week before I leave Chicago for nine months.
I just got off the phone with my sweet teammate, Nol (p.s. she wrote a super sweet blog introducing our team. Her blog is noelleparker.theworldrace.org) and we were talking about the differences between houses and homes. Houses have a physicality to them. They can be defined by things that are tangible, like walls and roofs and sinks. But to be at home is a sensation. It is a deep rooted sense of belonging. While a home isn’t physical, the people who make it so are. As Launch approaches, I wanted to write a letter to those who made this my home.
Everyone- You rallied around me. The outpouring of support, love and encouragement I have had as I journeyed into this next stage in my life has been humbling and crazy to me. You made this space community.
Sarah, Chesleigh, and all my other Wyldlife and Young Life Friends- You loved me so well. You showed me what being loved by the Creator of the Universe might look like. You called me out, redirected and called me higher. You made this space godly.
Andrew, Kaki, Natalie, John, Jason- I love you all. You showed me that it’s not day to day friendship that’s 50-50, but the overall summation of friendship that should be. You taught me what it looks like to love another person well, showing me that while relationships might be hard, love is easy. You encouraged me, teased me, listened to me, and built me up in a way that we only know how. You made this space relational.
Hernandez Family, Golden Family, Roeder Family and all the rest of the “family”- You showed up with bells on my whole life. You have showed up at every graduation, birthday, and random Thursday nights. You filled this space with unconditional love and support.
Kara, Emily and Izzy- I won’t lie to you. Being a sister is challenging. Sometimes you sucked. Granted, sometimes so did I but that’s not the point. You showed me what it looks like to share. Share parents, share a room, and share things. You made this space selfless
Mom and Dad- Thank you. Thank you for deciding that my sisters and I were something to be cherished, because your love has taught me what God’s love might look like. Thank you for encouraging goodness. Dad always said “do good” and I think there is something significant to that. Greatness fades, but goodness is a constant, even when things maybe aren’t great. I love you. More than I will ever be able to express. I am who I am, because you are who you are. You made me in this space
Home is the sensation of belonging. Not that long ago, I wasn’t sure if I did. Chicago was a house, built with four walls and a roof and baggage and hurt. Now, as I ready myself to leave, to go to places that aren’t traditionally home, I realize how equipped I am with belonging.
I owe it to you.
