This past week was one of those weeks.
Where you say this:
But really feel a bit more like this:
It was our final week of term, and y'all, it was packed full.
Full of final lectures, final supervisions, final meals in this community, final tea times, final chapel and worship services, final community nights, and final times at Westminster. This, of course, means there were goodbyes said. I really don't like saying goodbye - like to the point I'll just smile and give you a hug and refuse to acknowledge that we are saying goodbye.
Tonight is my last night here at Westminster College, where I have felt at home. My simple little room has hosted guests, my bed has been made (by me!) just about every day, there are books on the shelves, and toddler art has been hung on the walls. It has been home.
I am beyond blessed to have multiple places I feel home. Some are buildings: my parent's house, my apartment at Columbia, my sibling's houses (I always feel welcomed into their homes), and numerous aunts and uncles' houses where I feel at home.
And yes, at times the CTS Library, Refectory, or even my car have felt like home to me.
At the beginning of this term, I very much had the mindset of, "this is just eight weeks - you can do anything for eight weeks."
Well, I did it. And I loved it.
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| View from my window this past week. |
Sure, there were some bumpy days.
Sure, there were some days when I longed for more people to smile as they walked along the street. (Seriously...I am 100% sure that is how people know I am not from around here.)
And, you have no idea how I would love some legit queso right about now.
All in all though, this community at Westminster, at the Federation, and at Cambridge have provided such hospitality (and SUNNY DAYS) that I am so sad to be leaving this life here. It has been a fruitful eight weeks, full of engaging and stimulating lectures and conversations. Friendships have been forged. It has been a time of ABUNDANT laughs. And abundant worship. It has been a space where I've been able to do some soul searching, exploring some parts of my heart and mind that I didn't realize I had burrowed away.
It doesn't end here for me. This home I've made is gonna stick with me. I'll look back on my days at Westminster and smile. I'll know it will still be here, doing what they do best, welcoming students and guests into their fold.
And it will still be a home to me, just like my other homes.
Yes, it will take some adjusting to no British accents.
(If anyone wants to just try their best for the first few days I'm at home, it might help the transition...)
Yes, I will miss walking as much as I do (AND NOT NEEDING A CAR!).
Yes, I will miss (like, seriously) some super-awesome-loving people from here. (Esp the ones who are 100% ok singing Disney songs at a posh dinner reception.)
But the adventure continues on. I've got the next four weeks booked full of adventure.
Then, I return home to Texas for Easter, followed by a week at home in Georgia, catching up with people who make my heart happy.
And, because I love Texas so much, I'm spending the summer in Dallas, where I'll be doing my Chaplain Pastoral Education at UT Southwestern Medical Center.
So as I transition from one home to the next, I know it'll be good.
Tomorrow I head out for a week long retreat in Iona, pictured here:
To give you an idea of the traveling that gets to happen - here's google map's version:
(I'm breaking the journey up with a stop in Glasgow and afternoon in Oban.)
Should be fun! Take care of yourselves and look for another blog in a week or so!
