Joy in Suffering

So it's only been three whole weeks since I packed up a U-Haul cargo van and my car with all my stuff, and moved back to Michigan. Truth is, I miss my old home. I'm reading a book called, The Home Place, and there's a quote that really stuck out to me.

"Home is a place we all must find, child. It's not just a place where you eat or sleep. Home is knowing."-The Wiz

This stuck out to me because I can find myself agreeing with this statement. Home is a place you find and it's a state of mind. If I so choose to, I can choose to find home again, here, and I will. To keep things as real as possible though, it's not all shimmering sunshine and rainbows, but I can choose to believe in the sunshine state of mind and look for the silver linings. I'm staggering a little in my faith as I'm still searching for my home church, but in the meantime I can relate with Paul and rejoice in the sufferings I'm experiencing. The suffering include: the unknown, missing my friends who live in Minnesota and Wisconsin, missing a simple thing like driving five minutes to my favorite trendy coffee shop, ECDC. I'm acknowledging the fact that I miss it because I'm human. I'm brave enough to know everything takes time. "Nothing good gets away."-John Steinbeck

Blue Owl, Lansing, MI

I'm excited for what's to come though, and I treasure dearly the time I've been able to spend with my parents, drinking a craft beer in front of the fireplace, eating my favorite snacks, and watching shows. What keeps me motivated is faith, gratitude, and lessons to be learned. "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."- Philippians 4:8

I want to be known for loving others and myself in every season and being content whatever the circumstance. And besides, everything is temporary. I could one day call Wisconsin home again.