I Was Not Prepared

The day before I moved to Washington DC, I was reunited with my entire extended family as we celebrated the life of my grandfather. The day was filled with love, appreciation, and anxiety about what was to come next as I moved to a new city where I did not know anyone. I was not prepared.

I was not prepared for how much I was going to love living in Washington DC. Living in the nation’s capital has it’s been an absolute treat, whether it’s hopping into one of the Smithsonians on a day off, playing in the snow during the week of a snow blanketed capitol, or sitting on the Casa porch waving at the people of our neighborhood coming and going, I fell in love with the city.

I was not prepared for how much I was going to learn at Christ House. It has become one of my absolute favorite places to be, the patients, the staff, and the mission of Christ House has left an impact on me that I could’ve never prepared for. The gift of being able to walk alongside the patients of Christ House on their recovery journey is something that I will cherish forever and take with me through each step of my life.

I was not prepared for how much I was going to love my housemates. I have community dinner and community prayer five nights out of the week, and on the two days when we do not have our community time, we are still together! The gift of walking alongside each of these individuals this year as we have grown in our faith, has been so incredibly rewarding. I can’t quite put into words everything that has happened this year and every moment with them that has made it so incredible, but I think it is the unremarkable moments that have bound us together. Whether it’s shouting “Cohort moment!”, line dancing in the kitchen, or “can I help you with that?”, the small in-betweens have shaped us as a cohort, and I am forever grateful.

I like to use the phrase “Everyday is a dream!” This usually prompts a variety of reactions, but when I say it, I really do mean it. This year has been a dream. Christ has been so present in my journey to FMS, and so present during my entire journey through these last 11 months. There is not a day that goes by where I do not sit and thank the Lord that I am here today in this place, with these people. As we enter this next chapter and I look back on my year of service, I am so proud of my cohort and how far we have come, and I’m truly so grateful that I was not prepared for this year.

Question for Reflection: Reflect on an experience that you weren’t fully prepared for and how that experience positively changed your life.