Instead.

Sometimes the best kind of adventure is that which requires skin in the game; discomfort; consequence; sacrifice. Moving and living and working in a place entirely new, without friendly faces or places, has been a welcome adventure. But yes, I do get lonely. Adventures are lovely, and easier to plan when involving only one schedule, but memories are bigger and broader and richer when shared.

Since moving to Manitowoc, I've struggled to stay put on the weekends. I am so blessed to have friends and family scattered across the country, all willing to host and wine and dine me for a weekend, if only I can make the trip. So I have. I've traveled north and south and west (and even to the east, when by ferry); across the Mississippi River and the Mason-Dixon line. I've traveled nearly every other weekend, in fact. And thus far, the ROI has been much greater to spend the hours on the road to have 36 hours with family/friends, rather than a typical 1-2 hours of fellowship on Sabbath morning and the remainder of the weekend in reflective solitary adventuring*.

This weekend, I stayed put, turning down a potential hiking sister-date.
And this weekend, I struggled for the motivation to wake early and get out the door and get to church. But I did (albeit with back-up adventuring equipment in tow: water, lunch, hiking clothes, hammock, picnic blanket, book, camera, tuque, fire starter, rain cover, flashlight, stove...).

I feared I'd regret my stay-put decision.
But instead, I shared a pew and a hymnal with a friend.
Instead, I was invited and encouraged to share warm conversation and pozole picada - todo en Español.
Instead, I donned my hiking boots and hung out with a seven-year-old who invited me to his birthday party in two months and 35 days.
Instead, I walked through the woods with some unexpecting hosts.
Instead, I let campfire smoke and serenades by starlight fill me and move me and heal me.


Today, I awoke feeling a bit sorry for my lonely self.
Tonight, I sleep feeling fulfilled and surrounded instead.



YHWH-Jireh: The LORD provides.
He sees what I wish for, and provides what I need instead.




*I do not dislike solitary adventuring; I think it's more the reflection I can't handle too much of. More on that later, I suspect.