changing of seasons, holy anticipation

i've always loved Fall. yellow, red and orange leaves... crisp, cool nights...

when i first came to the U.S. over a decade ago, i didn't believe anyone who told me that leaves could be any other color than green. i still remember seeing these colors on trees for the first time, and it was the most exciting thing that happened to me then. it was so new and something i'd never seen before, and it forever changed the way i would look at things.

i think every Fall season has brought that same anticipation and excitement. in college, Fall always meant the beginning of another school year, which brought new friends, new experiences and new adventures. there was always an opportunity to look back to the year before, and the realization of how much i'd grown and changed since then. the last two Falls had been the same way, starting grad school and seeing how a year of grad school had changed me.

this year's Fall has been very different, yet the same in the way of bringing life's new changes and pointing to how far i've come. i began my first "real world" job and left the grad school community i'd called home the last two years. new seasons in life brought on transitions in close friendships. factors out of my church's control has led to the closing of my church home location at union station. i used to fear these life-changing transitions for the unknowns they bring, but i think wisdom of the years have taught me that some of the most exciting things are those that were once "unknowns."

when we first heard news of union station closing, pastor mark encouraged us to wait with "holy anticipation," and to rest in the knowledge times of change precede seasons of growth and self-discovery. the more i've thought about this, the more i've realized that my life has always been about waiting in holy anticipation. i never really know what is down the road, all i have are the next few steps and faith in a great Guide who has promised me a joyful and fruitful life.