Community

Wow. This trip has meant so much to me. Between John Foreman, junior and senior highers, new friends, and old mentors, this time in Chicago has been so refreshing and just...good. Even though there has been little to no sleep (seriously), that just means that we have spending more time in community, in silliness, and with our Creator. As our new friend David would say: "The more time you spend sleeping, the less time you spend living." Which I don't necessarily agree with. But on this trip that is so true.

I have seen God work in mighty ways in my time in Chicago. There have been some hard times all around, but we have had each other to wrestle with (figuratively and literally). I am so thankful for all the talks and laughs and cries and freak outs and scary faces and craziness and frustrations and community. I have been terribly missing my community back home, but this trip is so much what I need right now.

Jon and Sarah have showed me so much of Jesus. In the way we all interact, in their friends, in their giving and loving nature. They have just abundantly blessed us in our stay. I will be sad to leave. They are some of the sweetest, funniest, cutest, most fantastic people of God that I know. I have missed them greatly--even more than I thought I had. And I am so glad to be goofy with them. They are still so much the same as they always were, and yet have made improvements and grown so much in faith, community, and God.

On Shabbat, there was an amazing thunder and lightning storm. We shared the peace that comes with resting in God's power. The lightning was so amazing. The rain was so good. God's might was so readily known. And our time with each other was relevant and true and raw and beautiful. The silliness of Jon's face mixed with the amazing and freeing conversation was so unique and good. There were times of immense seriousness and times of just crazy giggling and laughter.

Father, thank you for all your peace and grace in the midst of difficult times and good times and how they mesh so much. Jesus, your power and saving presence is so much alive in me and in community. You are the ultimate saving hope. Holy Spirit, thank you for making your presence known. Enter into us as we journey with you. Your breath is in us, and you know our hearts. Turn us more and more into your people, into who you are. Teach us to love.

And so it is...




Jamie