Memories

Today Jeff and I went back up to Garrett with a member of Ridge Church. She is looking at starting either there or Asbury in the fall. It was great to be back. We don't think we've been back to campus since graduation. It's crazy how those two and a half years have passed so quickly! Many of the offices have moved, the apartments have been renovated, and they'll be doing more renovations in the fall. But many of the people are still there, and we got a warm welcome. It kind of felt like a home-coming of sorts.

It made me realize that although there has been change, it is still the same place with lots of the same faces. It's kind of like going home. For Jeff and I, going "home" isn't back to the houses where we grew up, but it's going back to the place where the people are, no matter where that is. It's the people that make home "home." And yet, there are so many memories wrapped up in the places.

"That's where our friend Sara used to live."
"And that's Joey's old apartment."
"Lisa used to walk her rabbit Claude in the courtyard on a leash."
"Remember ......?"
"Kim's Kitchen has the best scones...so good!"

I don't miss the work that came with seminary. Many times I struggled with not needing to put myself through some of the agony of grad school in order to do the job and be the person I felt I was called to do and be. I know I'm better at my job (at least I have resources I wouldn't have had) and I know I'm a better person because of the relationships I had and the people I know because of my time there. I miss that tight-knit community and the people who were such a part of our lives and who still are, no matter how long it has been since we've seen each other or talked last.