"On your way home from this retreat last year, you met me while I was home for Thanksgiving at Panera. At that point, I left the conversation almost positive that I'd pursue a volunteer year in the Blue Ridge Region. And now here we are, coming back from the same retreat just one year later. Can you believe that was only a year ago? I feel like I've been in this region forever. I feel like I've known you guys my entire life."
That thought boggled my mind.
The downstate New York and New Jersey staff teams spent the past two days encountering Jesus and fellowshipping with one another. Some of the people (like Chris and Christine) I spend almost every day with. Some people (like my Central/South New Jersey Area Team) I see/talk to/pray with on a pretty regular basis. And others I had only met once or twice before.
But regardless, most of the people that I spent the past 24 hours with I truly feel like I've known forever. These people have welcomed me with open arms into this region and I've been blown away by how well each person has cared for me as not only a staff worker, but as a sister in Christ.
This week I found myself in multiple laughing fits as we played Train Wreck (or "fruit basket" as this region calls it) and lovingly teased each other like siblings so often do. I realized that even though I am usually shy at first and even though I had only met several people a couple of times, I was able to completely be my crazy ENFJ self. I even realized that any time extroversion was mentioned people automatically looked at me. (An intervention for my caffeine addiction was also apparently discussed while I was in the bathroom at one point...) Shockingly, on the first day I found myself in tears telling my deepest, darkest secret to some of these co-workers and asking for prayer that Jesus would meet me in that place. These people know me. Deeply. From my stupid love for coffee to my goofy personality and to the wounds that cut me the deepest. They. Know. Me.
Home. That's what this region feels like. Home.
As much as I've tried to fight it, as much as I so miss my fellowship in Virginia, I can never go back. I'm building relationships in my town, in my church, and in this InterVarsity Region. I'm seeing it confirmed time and time again that this is truly the place Jesus led me to--that nothing over the past four years was an accident. Everything has led to me applying for InterVarsity Staff in this region.
How did a place that I avoided for so many years so easily come to be where I know I belong? Jesus. That's how. I laugh when I think that I ever thought I could run from this calling to NY/NJ. This calling to staff. It amuses me to think I doubted that Jesus would lovingly perfectly place all these pieces of the puzzle together.
It still hurts when I call my best friends on the phone and know they are hours and hours away. It still hurts when I come home to a house that's empty of roommates and laughter. It still hurts when I know that my community is just going to look different here than it did in college.
But I love it all the same. And I'm content. And I'm full. And I'm comfortable.
Settle down, it'll all be clear.
Don't pay no mind to the demons,
They fill you with fear.
The trouble it might drag you down.
If you get lost, you can always be found.
Just know you're not alone,
Cause I'm gonna make this place your home.
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