This week I mark one year since I left the city and moved to the mountains. I spent my morning walking along a trail off the Blue Ridge Parkway and marveled at the beauty of fall. Something about the winding trail and crisp mountain air made me reflect on the journey of the past year.
I struck out last year with my Honda Civic packed to the ceiling, left the city and people I had come to love, and headed to a place wholly unfamiliar. Leaving Chicago was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. I remember the morning I left, bawling on the bathroom floor, filled with conflicting emotions of pain and joy, fear and bravery, regret and expectation.
Many moments of the past year have brought forth the same feelings. Many have been difficult and painful. Change is hard. But now, prompted by the colors of red and yellow, I see that the change has been beautiful.
My life looks pretty different now than it did a year ago. But not in the ways I expected. “In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.” (Prov. 16:9) I’m so thankful that’s the case. He has created the change of the past year. He has refined the direction of the course I planned.
And I’ve never felt more ALIVE.
I often remember the great moments of the past year. But I don’t want to forget the pain. The hard parts of the journey. They point to this moment – the moment of understanding and clarity. Of realizing that it is the change that creates the beauty. The constant working of His will. Of refining my steps until they are in sync with His plans.
This is where LIFE is. Here in these brilliant woods. Here with my creator. Here with change.
