"If you hold on to the handle, she said, it’s easier to maintain the illusion of control. But it’s more fun if you just let the wind carry you. " -story people
This is one of my favorite Story People stories (seriously friends, if you need a little inspiration throughout the course of your day, check out www.storypeople.com). In so many ways, I feel that these two sentences have embodied my YAGM experience thus far: From discernment to application, alumni phone call to interview, waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting....waiting for an answer, to the Discernment-Interview-Placement weekend, consisting of MORE interviews, discernment, and waiting, waiting, waiting, and then knowing: I would be serving in Jerusalem. Woah. Then there was the four months in between in which I graduated from college, married off my darling roommate to a wonderful man, sent one of my best friends back to Italy, returned to camp for one of the best summers of my life, accompanied some incredibly talented & passionate youth to the National Youth Gathering in New Orleans, scampered back to the woods for a few weeks, went home, had a brief & beautiful reunion with some of those who are most dear to me, packed my two (49.5lb and 50lb...cutting it close!) suitcases and showed up in Chicago for orientation, where I spent a week with 56 other YAGM before boarding a plane that brought me here. Home for a year. To say that my life is full, rich and wonderful doesn't even come CLOSE to how beautiful and holy this journey has been....I am so blessed.
Those of you who know me best know that i like to have things figured out. I like a plan, to be in charge, to be in control. These past few months, I truly have let go of the handle, so to speak, and have let the wind carry me. Reflecting on the last year of my life, from the very first time I opened the YAGM application to my present moment as a slight breeze drifts in through the windows, echos of beautiful conversation fill my mind, and anticipation of all that today holds invigorates me on this Tuesday morning. It has been a long and beautiful journey (yes, even longer than the 14 hours I spent on planes to bring me to this place!). I am humbled and grateful for all that filled my days: for friends, companionship, challenges, joys....Dear friends, I can do nothing else BUT let the wind carry me, let the Spirit guide me as I being a new chapter here. Starting work. Making friends. Embracing a new culture. Leaving family & friends behind. Jumping in with both feet~I am so excited for this journey.
Thank you all for your continued love, prayers, and support. You are all a part of my story and I thank God everyday for the way that the Holy Spirit is present in these relationships.
Peace, joy and love to you all....Let go of the handle and see where the wind may carry you!
Laura
