twenty-three

That’s right folks. Year #3 has begun for me at the INN. We’re back and full speed ahead. There’s already tons of things to do, lots of excitement about the prospects of the year, and as always, the great unknown that the year holds. I thought a brief reflection might be in order, concerning my state of mind regarding this all and my hopes for the year.

It’s been a pretty great summer. I’ve been able to actually relax. I’ve read a lot, slept well, exercised, spent time with Stacy, spent time with family, and haven’t really worked much. Kind of a dream. Through it all, my focus has been on making a Sabbath of the break. There are too many things that get passed over, too many things that get missed, when we live at a frenzied, restless pace. This summer was my attempt at slowing down, living life with my love (Stacy), and remembering how to take heed to the simpler things. Good meals with friends, good long runs, good books, good music, all those things were enjoyed and used as a means to a more settled, calmer existence. I feel healthier, rested, and most importantly, more prepared to do the work that I am so blessed to get to do each year at the INN.

And so, the year begins. We have days like today, where we plow through the schedule, divide our tasks, plan for the big push as students come back in 3 weeks. We have the hectic, frantic, and beautiful conversations in which I can feel the pace quicken and can also feel the deep movements of the Spirit, pouring around the room, guiding us towards something wonderful.

With each year, there’s a lot we know that we’ll do. We’ll have the INN on Tuesday nights. We’ll have a retreat or two. We’ll have student leader gatherings. We’ll work with a staff of new interns. We’ll go on Spring Break service trips. And yet, in all that we know, there is always this underlying knowing that we do not know what the year will hold. Questions of “who will the students be that show up on Tuesday nights?” or “what ways will we be able to impact Bellingham for good, for justice, for God’s kingdom?” or “what will we all be asked to confront in our understanding of God as we work out our faith this year?” all roll around in my head. I think it’s in those questions that excitement rises from. It’s this embracing, this jumping out into, this unknown dance that we’re all about to step into as a community. It’s these things that drive me forward and keep everything at the INN fresh, year in and year out.

I am hopeful for what this year brings. For the students who will make the INN there home. For the relationships that will be built, with people being a community. For the fun. For the hard stuff. For the learning and growing that will happen, not only in students’ lives, but in the lives of our staff and of our supportive community.

So here it goes. I’ll try to write more as the year goes on (as I always promise). Please continue to check in and find out what’s going on with this vibrant college ministry. I’m so happy to be a part of what God is doing here and, if you can’t tell, hopeful for the unknown that will play out this year.

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