Beginnings.
Every beginning comes from some other beginning's end.
Or so they say.
I guess that it's true from my vantage point. I am living into the intersection of a multitude of beginnings and endings. An intersection where green not only means "GO" but also, "Pause and hug your friends, soak in the moment and still get across the street before oncoming traffic sweeps you away!!" and red doesn't actually ever happen on your street because life just keeps happening--no "STOP" to be found. An exciting, busy intersection, yes. An overwhelming and all-consuming crossroads of a life as well.
In theory, I am at a point of many beginnings: the life of a Concordia College alumni, a new summer in God's Great Northwoods, my journey with YAGM is just beginning--my whole life stretches out before me, just waiting to be begun. Who knows what lies ahead!? All sorts of micro beginnings lie within these macro beginnings, just brimming with potential and promise!
Truthfully though, I am also in a point of endings. Saying goodbye to the title and security of being a college student. Bidding farewell to some of the most incredible vocations-not even jobs-that I could have asked for: my work at Trinity is drawing to a close, I only have two more nights at the dance studio. In the midst of all of my endings, many of my friends are saying goodbyes and beginning the process of moving on to new countries, vocations, and chapters of their lives. And part of that involves saying goodbyes (hopefully very, very temporary goodbyes) to one another. Those endings, the relationships, are what are hardest of all....
So we begin here, tentatively crossing the street, looking both ways. As all of the newness rushes in, I am relishing in the familiar things. Looking back at what has been: I'm blessed to have snagged a few days at home, will spend oodles of time at Camp Hiawatha where I've spent every summer I can remember, and have spent a great deal of time surrounded by my dearest friends and my "extra limb," however brief and fleeting that time may have been. And looking toward what will be, and anticipating the newness, I am finding myself more and more excited. Energized. Inspired. There is so much to look forward to! So much to be grateful for. So, so much.
Alumni, camp staff, YAGM, friend, daughter, sister, dancer.
Many titles, some new, some old: all me, bravely (timidly, cautiously....) crossing the street.
And all I can do is be.
