Hindsight Is 20/11

This has been an incredible year.  Full of hope, promise and change.  (No political references intended.)  I think back to where I was a year ago, and where I am now...or about to be, and I see God's hand all over it.  Usually I don't see that until I look back, but this time I was blessed to see it the whole time.  Maybe not in every detail, but I knew it was Him who was moving me.

It was today, a year ago, that I began the preparations to move from Joliet, IL back to the area of my childhood/youth in Central PA.  It was an easy choice, but it was difficult on certain levels to execute.  I had to leave behind a wonderful family of friends.  You know who you are.  Yes, you.  I'm not a fan of listing out names and stuff.  There is a deep bond with the different people I called house-mates, the students and leaders of the Bin, my employers, and of course the folks at Southwest.

I also left behind comfort and certainty.

I knew that every weekday I'd head to Plainfield for work.  Wednesdays I would leave work and go straight to the barn for The Bin.  Weekends were always up in the air, except for Sunday.  I knew what I had to look forward to upon parking my car at home.  I always felt welcome and safe.  I knew God had worked in my life there, and that he would continue to work in others.  But my time was up.

So, I planned.  Saved.  Sold.  Packed.  Moved.

I had nothing but support from everyone there in Illinois.  It was hard to leave.  I was blessed to have a great friend travel with me back to PA.  That 13 hour drive would have been a lot harder and longer without her.

Then I was back.

In some ways everything was different.  In others nothing had changed.  There are positives and negatives to both aspects of that.  Some of the fruits that were planted when I first returned are just now starting to grow.  Others may take longer.  But like I said, God's hand has been guiding me this whole time.  Moving me toward the right people and opportunities.

I was blessed to go back to South Africa with BGC again this year.  It was another incredible trip.  Every second spent in Africa makes me love it all the more.  All of the people there have made an indelible impression upon my life.

I got to team up with a fantastic ministry in M28.  Their emphasis on discipleship has  been encouraging and challenging.  While it took a while, I've finally been connected with someone to walk along side of down that road to being a disciple.

Some other great things have been reconnecting with some old friends and allowing those friendships to become deeper than phone/email could allow.  There is something about being in the same space as someone that just makes a huge difference.  This has led to challenges and growth (and practically reviving) my art.  Also a new found appreciation for eating better and trying new things.

Not only old friends, but I have found a fantastic group of new friends in my co-workers, as well as the incredible folks at the Pancake Mansion in Harrisburg!  I have been blessed with such a variety of viewpoints and attitudes from these people.  Looking forward to where these friendships go in the future.

So as I look to the future and the adventure that starts for me Monday...I can look back on 2011 and despite the difficulties and challenges (which I'm skipping over in this post) I know 2012 will be amazing, as long as I keep letting God lead and guide me.  (That's not to say I haven't/won't make mistakes...not claiming to be perfect here!)

The adventure I speak of, is that I'm moving into a "Sober House" on Monday to be the House Manager.  It's not a job.  I'll be there in the house to be the ground wire.  The resident assistant.  A source of consistency and accountability for the guys who will be living there.  The house is for men who were addicted to drugs and/or alcohol.  It's a step further from addiction than an half-way house.  I'm excited about this and believe 100% that God has led me to it.

I'm also excited because I know I'm not in this alone.  I know I'll be living there, but there is a fantastic team of people who are willing to give time and effort to these men.  So if you're in the area and want to help, email me.  If getting directly involved isn't your thing, then pray.  Pray for the men to live there.  Pray for their lives to be changed by Jesus.  That they can overcome their addictions and move into a life that is free from those things.  Pray for peace and community in the house.  And for favor in the eyes of the neighborhood.

Thanks for reading!  I'll be back in 2012!

Happy New Year
grace, peace + hope-Bear