I was at youth group tonight, and we were singing “Heal Our Land”. The chorus says, “Here we are, abandoned hearts, on bended knee”, and I kept hearing the Holy Spirit tell me to get on my knees. Our conversation went something like this:
“I don’t want to.”
“Do it.”
“But it’s uncomfortable. Why do you want me to do it?”
“It doesn’t matter. Just do it.”
“But this is so small. I’m just going to ignore it.”
“If you can’t obey me in something small, then how can I trust you with something bigger.”
“Bahhh – FINE!” I got on my knees.
And that is why I am here - because that (sometimes) annoying voice keeps telling me to write, and despite my best attempts to ignore it, the persistence is now deafening, and even though I was up at 4 am (which I blame on my earnest husband), I can’t sleep.
So I poured myself a glass of champagne, and here I am. Where to start? My childhood church, where the average number of kids per family was 5? Or middle school, where I was under the impression that if I looked at a boy I could get pregnant? Or my family fertility record, which is heavily weighted toward the, “I know we have five kids already, but we’re pregnant – don’t how that happened!” side of the spectrum. Or my nickname as womb warmer, which was given to me by my brother after my sister got pregnant immediately following vacations with me? Or my general disdain for the term “trying”? O - I know where to start.
The month after our wedding, I was a week late. Vance joked about my especially large boobs. “Don’t get too excited,” I cautioned. But I didn’t want to take a pregnancy test, because I enjoyed the thought that we could have a baby. Vance is already an amazing dad, and as much as I want kids, I want to give him kids. He loves them, and they love him. And I mean LOOOOVE him. How special it will be to raise a kiddo with him.
Then, I got my period. And with the exception of that first month, it has visited like clockwork, a seemingly soulless and callous reminder of hope deferred. And each month, my reaction has differed.
“Well, it’s probably best it’s not happening right now. We have a lot going on.”
“It’s our first year of marriage, so I definitely don’t want to put pressure on us.”
“A lot of people take a few months the first time.”
“Mehh we may have missed the window this month.”
“We have the necessary ingredients, so it seems logical these would align at some point.”
“Middle school health was B.S.”
“Okay. I’ll pee on a stick. But I’m buying the cheap one.”
“What the heck is this saying? Maybe I shouldn’t have gotten the knock-off.”
“I’m not gonna drink.”
“Nevermind, I’m gonna drink.”
“Okay, now I’m tracking for realz, for realz. We’re gonna be militant about this. I’m buying the expensive stick.”
“Why does this monthly realization come during literally the most emotional time where under normal circumstances I cry watching an episode of Scrubs. Although, to be fair, Scrubs always makes me cry, so not a good example.”
“Vance, you literally have a daughter who is proof that this works! I’m sorry. I’m failing.”
“Okay, what are we doing wrong? What are the blockers? What’s the path to green here? Let's align on next steps.”
“God, have you forgotten me?”
“Vance, I need a hug real bad right now.”
“Anna, people have gone through so much worse. Literally years more of waiting than you. Sometimes with an answer of no. Or miscarriages. Stop crying. Also, you just went to Wimbledon, and your life is amazing. Pull it together, woman! Why do I keep crying? I feel so silly. God, are you laughing at me?”
I’m not writing this for tips on tracking my ovulation or a word of encouragement or prayer or a shared story (though of course I welcome those – except for the tips on tracking ovulation – there are enough blogs and Instagram ads out there!). I’m certainly not writing to make people afraid for me to know they’re pregnant – I will always celebrate with you! This is me throwing my hands up and saying “Bahhh – FINE!” to the Holy Spirit. I don’t know why He asks us to do things. Sometimes I think He just asks us to obey for the sake of obedience. Despite my propensity for over-sharing, I don’t actually want to resurrect my seriously neglected blog to reveal this part of our lives.
I do know this. As a child, I prayed every night that Kiva and Dwight and David and Dory and Elmer and Tes would have children, and indeed, they all have beautiful families, though not without a story. I flew to New Zealand when my sister and her husband lost their Stephen to a miscarriage at six months and then again to welcome their sweet answer to prayer a couple years later. I have comforted dear friends who believed they may not have children as punishment for past decisions and seen redemption. And for as many people I know who have gotten pregnant on a whim, there are those who have struggled immensely, sometimes with success, and sometimes not. Many retreated from social media, which I totally understand, because sometimes I open my newsfeed, and my reaction is, “bahhh, of course they’re pregnant. Who else? Come on? Who else can you throw at me? O crap. Didn’t even know she was married.” We all cope differently, and apparently my mechanism is to scream from the rooftops, “I want a baby!” To each their own.
I also know that God is faithful, and every time I lose a little piece of my heart, He’s not laughing. He cries with me, and then He comes and helps piece it back together, as my loving husband reminds me. I think about all the women in the Bible who longed for children and hoped in waiting. I remember Anna, who waited for years to see the Savior, a promise that had been given to her. And I cling to a promise He gave me.
In one of the many moments I questioned whether or not I would ever marry, I asked God to give me a dream of my future. “Just show me the cats, God!” I pleaded. I didn’t dream about a wedding or husband, and I didn’t dream about my future as a cat lady (no judgment); instead, I was sitting on a patio, looking at my two adorable children, a four-year-old boy and two-year-old girl with much darker complexions than mine. When I met Vance, I knew they were his. In a rare moment of discretion, I resisted the urge to tell him this on our first date, and here we are.
I like to think God gave me that dream because He knew I’d have to cling to it. More than anything, though, I cling to the faithfulness of God. My whole life is a story that only He could write, starting with the fact that my parents had the faith to have another child just months after finding out their son was severely brain damaged. My career, my friendships, my travel, my husband, our home, our life, our relationships. All of it is a testament to His goodness.
Who knows what the coming months and years will hold? Maybe you’ll see a gender reveal in four months. You won’t – I don’t believe in throwing children parties until they’re old enough to thank me. Maybe we’ll get the right concoction of vitamins, diet, and sleep. Maybe we’ll go down the path of adoption or fertility treatments. Maybe we’ll stop “trying”, whatever that means. Stupid term.
Whatever they hold, though, I know they will be yet another testament to His goodness. For now, thanks for reading.
Thursday, August 3, 2023
Friday, December 31, 2021
We're Moving to Ohio!
I couldn't think of a creative title, so I didn't bury the lede.
Five and a half years ago, before I went to business school, I wrote this post about my future, specifically about my childhood desire to be married and raise a family in my hometown. In that longing, I reminded myself,
1) God does not call us to convenience. He calls us to His purpose, and He equips us to do it. 2) Miracles do not occur within the comfortable. They occur when we need Him. 3) God is faithful. Always. And finally, God hasn't forgotten about ten-year-old Anna. There is still time for those dreams to come true, too, even if it is not yet.
What a five-and-a-half years it has been. I have seen God's faithfulness woven throughout, and He always seems to surprise me. For instance, when I said, I won't go into tech, and I won't move to the West Coast, He said, you will work at Amazon, and you will move to Seattle.
Even during 2020, a year that is forgettable in many ways, He blessed me with this wonderful man I'm going to marry. The church Vance and I attend together is the answer to a decade of prayers for a church with like-minded people where I can sow and see fruit. It's awakened a new desire to lead within the church at whatever capacity God calls me to do so. We've been blessed with so many new friendships with strong Christians who are walking the same path we are walking, encouraging us, loving us, and pushing us to grow along the way.
John 10:10 says, “the thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy, but I have come to give life, and to give life abundantly.” To me, abundance is being able to look at your life and see God's goodness, and everywhere I look this year, I see God's goodness, regardless of the world’s chaos. From the weddings of business school classmates to a bachelorette party with friends from all stages of life to Christmas parties with our church family to scavenger hunts with my nieces and nephews, I see the beautiful narrative He has continued the past half-decade.
His latest surprise was probably the sweetest, though. Last November, when Vance was hesitant to visit my family for Christmas, I told him, "Just come. They're cool, you're cool, and even if we break up, I think you'd really like meeting them." The week we returned to Seattle, Vance told me he wanted to move to Ohio and be with my family. He had just spent a week eating my mom's delicious cookies, sitting on the coziest of green couches and watching endless home videos, and staring out the window to the winter wonderland and white Christmas. I brushed it off as one of those urges I always have when I get back from a week at home with family. After all, God has never actually called me back home, so why would He now? To be honest, I had buried that desire a bit, as I didn’t want to be disappointed when it didn’t happen. Plus, why would anyone from Hawaii ever move to Ohio? I forgot God’s sense of humor.
The coming months, as we got engaged (bt-dubs, the family trip home worked its magic and convinced Vance he wanted to marry me), planned a wedding, and continued investing in Seattle, his longing for Ohio didn't seem to go away, but neither did my love for this church and the community we were building. I began leading the youth program, spoke a time or two – which was exciting because normally I just give speeches in my vehicle to the dashboard - and was continually encouraged by their desire to bring Christ to Seattle. Our friends were so wonderful, and our time with them just seemed too short. I didn’t want to run from Seattle, and sometimes, there are certainly reasons to want to run. For instance, this week we went downtown and a man was ransacking a Target, from tearing down the security cameras to throwing everything off the shelves. I digress. Back to moving. Finally, I wasn't really convinced he would love living in Chardon. I mean, I loved it, but it is much different than any place he has ever lived.
In all my thinking and reasoning and pontificating, I felt God ask me: "Anna, are you letting Vance lead you and trusting that I am leading Him?" Hmmm, I thought. Well, I'm not sure. I mean, you've always led me, and I know what that looks like. But maybe I'm resisting a bit, and maybe I should stop. It was then that I told Vance that we would live where he decided, and I would be fully supportive. In this way, I was submitting to where God led him.
Vance continued the interview process with a position in Ohio and visited my family without me, at which point I realized that maybe he did love the town for what it is – a tight-knit community where life is simple yet full. We asked for prayer from those closest to us, and I asked specifically that if we were supposed to be in Ohio, I would be able work at Amazon remotely without having to interview for a new position. I didn't really feel like interviewing, and I find God likes specific requests. Sometimes God takes time to answer prayers, and sometimes it’s the same day. In this case, it was the latter, and I will start a new role in January in an org that supports remote work. As a single woman, I had a difficult time grasping the concept of the man being the head of the household. I had this idea that God would suddenly forget about me, and I’d have to sacrifice based on where God led the man. To the contrary, though, He has used Vance to show me that He never forgot about ten-year-old Anna.
My favorite Christmas hymn is O Holy Night, and I normally love the line, "a thrill of hope, a weary world rejoices." This year, however, the line, "long lay the world, in sin and error pining, til He appeared and the soul felt it's worth," has rung particularly true. The past year and a half, my soul has pined for Christ in a way that it hasn't before as it has become clear so much that we take for granted is not guaranteed. The past year and a half, my soul has also felt its immense worth. It's a very intimate feeling - a feeling that God is looking at you, and only you, and saying, "I see you. I've always seen you. In your darkest moments, in your doubt, in your sorrow and your joy, I have been there every moment. I never looked away. I know the desires of your heart, and they are safe with me, because I love you more than anyone else will ever love you, and more than you can ever imagine. And you think this is great - just keep trusting me, and see what I will do."
Twenty twenty-two has much to look forward to. A wedding, a honeymoon, praying for a house in Ohio so we don’t overstay our welcome with my generous parents – although my mom does love Vance’s cleanliness - new jobs. In that, there will certainly be some discomfort as well. We’re leaving a community that has become family, figuring out how to live together, communicate, and share a life, and transitioning to a new home. During those moments, I will remind myself of the same truths: God does not call us to convenience. Miracles do not happen within the comfortable. God is faithful always. And finally, God never forgets about us. And with Him, the best is always yet to come.
1) God does not call us to convenience. He calls us to His purpose, and He equips us to do it. 2) Miracles do not occur within the comfortable. They occur when we need Him. 3) God is faithful. Always. And finally, God hasn't forgotten about ten-year-old Anna. There is still time for those dreams to come true, too, even if it is not yet.
What a five-and-a-half years it has been. I have seen God's faithfulness woven throughout, and He always seems to surprise me. For instance, when I said, I won't go into tech, and I won't move to the West Coast, He said, you will work at Amazon, and you will move to Seattle.
Even during 2020, a year that is forgettable in many ways, He blessed me with this wonderful man I'm going to marry. The church Vance and I attend together is the answer to a decade of prayers for a church with like-minded people where I can sow and see fruit. It's awakened a new desire to lead within the church at whatever capacity God calls me to do so. We've been blessed with so many new friendships with strong Christians who are walking the same path we are walking, encouraging us, loving us, and pushing us to grow along the way.
John 10:10 says, “the thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy, but I have come to give life, and to give life abundantly.” To me, abundance is being able to look at your life and see God's goodness, and everywhere I look this year, I see God's goodness, regardless of the world’s chaos. From the weddings of business school classmates to a bachelorette party with friends from all stages of life to Christmas parties with our church family to scavenger hunts with my nieces and nephews, I see the beautiful narrative He has continued the past half-decade.
His latest surprise was probably the sweetest, though. Last November, when Vance was hesitant to visit my family for Christmas, I told him, "Just come. They're cool, you're cool, and even if we break up, I think you'd really like meeting them." The week we returned to Seattle, Vance told me he wanted to move to Ohio and be with my family. He had just spent a week eating my mom's delicious cookies, sitting on the coziest of green couches and watching endless home videos, and staring out the window to the winter wonderland and white Christmas. I brushed it off as one of those urges I always have when I get back from a week at home with family. After all, God has never actually called me back home, so why would He now? To be honest, I had buried that desire a bit, as I didn’t want to be disappointed when it didn’t happen. Plus, why would anyone from Hawaii ever move to Ohio? I forgot God’s sense of humor.
The coming months, as we got engaged (bt-dubs, the family trip home worked its magic and convinced Vance he wanted to marry me), planned a wedding, and continued investing in Seattle, his longing for Ohio didn't seem to go away, but neither did my love for this church and the community we were building. I began leading the youth program, spoke a time or two – which was exciting because normally I just give speeches in my vehicle to the dashboard - and was continually encouraged by their desire to bring Christ to Seattle. Our friends were so wonderful, and our time with them just seemed too short. I didn’t want to run from Seattle, and sometimes, there are certainly reasons to want to run. For instance, this week we went downtown and a man was ransacking a Target, from tearing down the security cameras to throwing everything off the shelves. I digress. Back to moving. Finally, I wasn't really convinced he would love living in Chardon. I mean, I loved it, but it is much different than any place he has ever lived.
In all my thinking and reasoning and pontificating, I felt God ask me: "Anna, are you letting Vance lead you and trusting that I am leading Him?" Hmmm, I thought. Well, I'm not sure. I mean, you've always led me, and I know what that looks like. But maybe I'm resisting a bit, and maybe I should stop. It was then that I told Vance that we would live where he decided, and I would be fully supportive. In this way, I was submitting to where God led him.
Vance continued the interview process with a position in Ohio and visited my family without me, at which point I realized that maybe he did love the town for what it is – a tight-knit community where life is simple yet full. We asked for prayer from those closest to us, and I asked specifically that if we were supposed to be in Ohio, I would be able work at Amazon remotely without having to interview for a new position. I didn't really feel like interviewing, and I find God likes specific requests. Sometimes God takes time to answer prayers, and sometimes it’s the same day. In this case, it was the latter, and I will start a new role in January in an org that supports remote work. As a single woman, I had a difficult time grasping the concept of the man being the head of the household. I had this idea that God would suddenly forget about me, and I’d have to sacrifice based on where God led the man. To the contrary, though, He has used Vance to show me that He never forgot about ten-year-old Anna.
My favorite Christmas hymn is O Holy Night, and I normally love the line, "a thrill of hope, a weary world rejoices." This year, however, the line, "long lay the world, in sin and error pining, til He appeared and the soul felt it's worth," has rung particularly true. The past year and a half, my soul has pined for Christ in a way that it hasn't before as it has become clear so much that we take for granted is not guaranteed. The past year and a half, my soul has also felt its immense worth. It's a very intimate feeling - a feeling that God is looking at you, and only you, and saying, "I see you. I've always seen you. In your darkest moments, in your doubt, in your sorrow and your joy, I have been there every moment. I never looked away. I know the desires of your heart, and they are safe with me, because I love you more than anyone else will ever love you, and more than you can ever imagine. And you think this is great - just keep trusting me, and see what I will do."
Twenty twenty-two has much to look forward to. A wedding, a honeymoon, praying for a house in Ohio so we don’t overstay our welcome with my generous parents – although my mom does love Vance’s cleanliness - new jobs. In that, there will certainly be some discomfort as well. We’re leaving a community that has become family, figuring out how to live together, communicate, and share a life, and transitioning to a new home. During those moments, I will remind myself of the same truths: God does not call us to convenience. Miracles do not happen within the comfortable. God is faithful always. And finally, God never forgets about us. And with Him, the best is always yet to come.
Friday, October 29, 2021
My 33 Thoughts!
Hello, friend! So it was my day of birth last month, and while I have been delinquent from my favorite birthday tradition – documenting my thoughts – for the past couple years, I actually went through the exercise. And then I never posted it. Not sure why, it just didn’t feel right. But today, I am back in sweet Northeast Ohio as my bridal shower is this weekend, and it feels right. Oscar dyed my hair yesterday for a reasonable price compared to Seattle, Phil and Courtny are still sleeping, Vance is landing in a couple hours, Mom’s praying with Aunt Vickie, the first playoff game is tonight, and all feels right in the world.
1. First and foremost, I am very excited to get married, as I love Vance and all, and we’re going to have a wonderful, goofy life together. However, I am also sad because that means my picture on this table will likely disappear and be replaced with a beautiful picture of our wedding day. I mean, it’s just such a classic mugshot.
2. I could probably call her Vickie at this point in my life. I am an adult, after all, and my nieces and nephews just call me Anna. Or Nunu. But I kind of like using the term, Aunt, because it represents what she was to me as a child. Not part of my family, but someone who I looked up and was able to see as an amazing example of a Godly woman, mother, and wife.
3. Showers are funny. Of course, my family will be there, but then so will many of my Mom’s friends who watched me grow up. I don’t know if they know how much it meant to me to grow up around such faithful women. It doesn’t seem like they should be giving me gifts. Seems like I should be giving them gifts. But, whatever, I’ll take the gifts.
4. One woman fasted for me to find a husband. How sweet is that? I haven’t spoken to her much over the years years, and yet here she was, across the country, praying for me.
5. I just poured myself some coffee and wished I had sweetened condensed milk to put in it.
6. I love Vietnamese coffee because the sweetened condensed milk makes it so rich.
7. Last week, I went to the wedding of two friends in Charlotesville, one of whom I traveled across Southeast Asia with. I think there’s a grammatical error in that sentence.
8. It was so fun to be back in Charlottesville and introduce that part of my life to Vance. We went to my favorite burger bar, had brunch with my old tennis buddy, his wife, and newborn, and stayed with one of my best friends, Armin.
9. Of course, Armin and I discussed religion and politics as we used to. Funny how you used to be able to have those discussions and disagree without angering anyone. We still can do it, but we seem to be the exception.
10. Armin approved of Vance and the holy union which is good. I obviously needed his approval.
11. And, man, was the wedding great. I missed weddings. It was so sweet seeing Kyle and Joyce just as caring, driven, and goofy as when I left. And so lovely to look around and be reminded of the role Charlottesville and everyone there played in shaping me.
12. We danced. I’m getting better at being led by Vance.
13. Both in dancing and in life. It’s funny – having been single for so long, I’m used to leading myself (or just roaming around aimlessly).
14. And now I have this man who is led by God. And it was always an interesting dynamic for me to picture before meeting Vance, but it makes sense now. A wise friend once told me to pray for a man who I wanted to follow because he was led by God. And I really do.
15. That doesn’t mean it’s not hard to figure out sometimes. We’re thinking about where we want to live after we get married.
16. On the one hand, houses in Seattle are $750K for a 2 bedroom, you have to show your vaccine passport to do mostly everything, and my car was broken into last week. Car break-ins seem to be a common occurrence.
17. On the other hand, this church! It’s amazing, and it is such a strong community that is really building us.
18. Chipotle! Important to inject this here, because my roommate bought me Chipotle for my birthday. Loyal readers know my obsession with Chipotle. That’s how great of a roommate she is. She intuited it because I talk about it constantly.
19. Chipotle and I had a minor falling out for three days when I got very sick at a football game. But we mended our relationship quite quickly because it’s so good.
20. And on the foot we have family! We all know how I feel about family. It’s funny though, I’ve always missed them, but maybe I’m used to missing them at this point.
21. Going back to Charlottesville, I was reminded that when I was finally settled there and had an amazing crew – multiple amazing crews, actually – God told me it was time to leave.
22. Wouldn’t it be funny if it was the same for Seattle? Regardless, the point is, I’m getting used to having a peace about God speaking to my husband and leading him as well.
23. On to less complicated topics. My first bachelorette party! Yes, I’m obviously having two bachelorette parties. What a hoot!
24. Talk about people who have been in your life forever, my best friends from high school joined. Crazy to think I’ve known them for almost twenty years. Kelsey’s just as excited all the time, Amanda’s just as sarcastic. I'm just as Anna.
25. We melded Chardon, Charlottesville, business school, and Seattle – well, Pilar. I don’t even know why Pilar wasn’t in my life until now, but man, I feel like she's always been there.
26. That’s one thing I really appreciate reflecting on life. In every stage, God has blessed me with wonderful people for that stage.
27. And normally, it’s only for a period, because life takes you different ways, but that doesn’t make that period less sweet.
28. Even in Seattle, I see my core group of business school friends far less often at this point, but they still mean so much to me and were integral in my transition there.
29. Occasionally, God gives you those gems. The people who will remain an integral part of your life no matter where you are.
30. It’s really humbling to be reminded of that, and quite honestly, it is undeserved.
31. Of course, everything God gives us is undeserved, and that’s the beautiful about Him. He wants to bless his children.
32. This past year, in the midst of the surrounding chaos, I have an acute awareness of how blessed I am.
33. There is a peace in that that surpasses all understanding and assures me that whatever the next year brings, God will continue to be faithful, and I will continue to be blessed.
34. Finally, and always - go toppers! Sidenote - if you've really been missing my writing, you should check out our wedding website. Great stuff here.
1. First and foremost, I am very excited to get married, as I love Vance and all, and we’re going to have a wonderful, goofy life together. However, I am also sad because that means my picture on this table will likely disappear and be replaced with a beautiful picture of our wedding day. I mean, it’s just such a classic mugshot.
3. Showers are funny. Of course, my family will be there, but then so will many of my Mom’s friends who watched me grow up. I don’t know if they know how much it meant to me to grow up around such faithful women. It doesn’t seem like they should be giving me gifts. Seems like I should be giving them gifts. But, whatever, I’ll take the gifts.
4. One woman fasted for me to find a husband. How sweet is that? I haven’t spoken to her much over the years years, and yet here she was, across the country, praying for me.
5. I just poured myself some coffee and wished I had sweetened condensed milk to put in it.
6. I love Vietnamese coffee because the sweetened condensed milk makes it so rich.
7. Last week, I went to the wedding of two friends in Charlotesville, one of whom I traveled across Southeast Asia with. I think there’s a grammatical error in that sentence.
8. It was so fun to be back in Charlottesville and introduce that part of my life to Vance. We went to my favorite burger bar, had brunch with my old tennis buddy, his wife, and newborn, and stayed with one of my best friends, Armin.
9. Of course, Armin and I discussed religion and politics as we used to. Funny how you used to be able to have those discussions and disagree without angering anyone. We still can do it, but we seem to be the exception.
10. Armin approved of Vance and the holy union which is good. I obviously needed his approval.
11. And, man, was the wedding great. I missed weddings. It was so sweet seeing Kyle and Joyce just as caring, driven, and goofy as when I left. And so lovely to look around and be reminded of the role Charlottesville and everyone there played in shaping me.
12. We danced. I’m getting better at being led by Vance.
13. Both in dancing and in life. It’s funny – having been single for so long, I’m used to leading myself (or just roaming around aimlessly).
14. And now I have this man who is led by God. And it was always an interesting dynamic for me to picture before meeting Vance, but it makes sense now. A wise friend once told me to pray for a man who I wanted to follow because he was led by God. And I really do.
15. That doesn’t mean it’s not hard to figure out sometimes. We’re thinking about where we want to live after we get married.
16. On the one hand, houses in Seattle are $750K for a 2 bedroom, you have to show your vaccine passport to do mostly everything, and my car was broken into last week. Car break-ins seem to be a common occurrence.
17. On the other hand, this church! It’s amazing, and it is such a strong community that is really building us.
18. Chipotle! Important to inject this here, because my roommate bought me Chipotle for my birthday. Loyal readers know my obsession with Chipotle. That’s how great of a roommate she is. She intuited it because I talk about it constantly.
19. Chipotle and I had a minor falling out for three days when I got very sick at a football game. But we mended our relationship quite quickly because it’s so good.
20. And on the foot we have family! We all know how I feel about family. It’s funny though, I’ve always missed them, but maybe I’m used to missing them at this point.
21. Going back to Charlottesville, I was reminded that when I was finally settled there and had an amazing crew – multiple amazing crews, actually – God told me it was time to leave.
22. Wouldn’t it be funny if it was the same for Seattle? Regardless, the point is, I’m getting used to having a peace about God speaking to my husband and leading him as well.
23. On to less complicated topics. My first bachelorette party! Yes, I’m obviously having two bachelorette parties. What a hoot!
24. Talk about people who have been in your life forever, my best friends from high school joined. Crazy to think I’ve known them for almost twenty years. Kelsey’s just as excited all the time, Amanda’s just as sarcastic. I'm just as Anna.
25. We melded Chardon, Charlottesville, business school, and Seattle – well, Pilar. I don’t even know why Pilar wasn’t in my life until now, but man, I feel like she's always been there.
26. That’s one thing I really appreciate reflecting on life. In every stage, God has blessed me with wonderful people for that stage.
27. And normally, it’s only for a period, because life takes you different ways, but that doesn’t make that period less sweet.
28. Even in Seattle, I see my core group of business school friends far less often at this point, but they still mean so much to me and were integral in my transition there.
29. Occasionally, God gives you those gems. The people who will remain an integral part of your life no matter where you are.
30. It’s really humbling to be reminded of that, and quite honestly, it is undeserved.
31. Of course, everything God gives us is undeserved, and that’s the beautiful about Him. He wants to bless his children.
32. This past year, in the midst of the surrounding chaos, I have an acute awareness of how blessed I am.
33. There is a peace in that that surpasses all understanding and assures me that whatever the next year brings, God will continue to be faithful, and I will continue to be blessed.
34. Finally, and always - go toppers! Sidenote - if you've really been missing my writing, you should check out our wedding website. Great stuff here.
Saturday, June 5, 2021
My Love Story
"Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass." Psalm 37:4. This past Thursday was the third of the month, the day my family fasts and prays together. We've done this since 2015, and I believe it started because my sister was applying to graduate schools. Admittedly, we've become less committed to the practice over six years, but I always appreciate the updates when they came through. I also love that it's this written record of God's faithfulness over time. For funsies, I looked back at the first update I wrote, and below is an excerpt:
"One more thing... that I'll be honest, I feel silly saying, but o well. I know it's not silly. But still. I really want a relationship. And I know what God's answer is to that, which is, not right now, but in the meantime, I'm really tired from transitioning and making big decisions on my own. I'm not tired all the time, but I am tired a lot. I know whatever is next is in God's hands, too, but that's not the most comforting thought because it's been hard to this point. So... that I'll find myself completely in Him and trust Him and rely on Him solely for strength. And that He will enable me to be joyful in the process and walk righteously."
Over the past six years, that prayer has definitely resurfaced in the email chain:
2017 - "Husband. Heck, maybe just a date. Hehe." 2018 - "Along with that, dating. To everyone who got married young, you missed a pain in the butt dating scene." 2019 - "Prayers for a husband, too. When dad prays with me in the morning, he always throws that in - a Godly, covenant man, and sometimes I want to stop, because it seems like that could take forever. But it's still something I desire, so dangit, I'll pray for it."
My heart has always desired a husband. I was blessed to be surrounded by beautiful examples of family, and I'd love to build my own. He answered so many prayers throughout my twenties I'm incredibly grateful for, but a husband wasn't one of those blessings. It wasn't as if I didn't try. I went on the apps, Match.com, Tinder, some ripoff matchmaking service that actually was pretty decent but too expensive, the League. The answer was always a clear no, though, most often coming from the guy, but occasionally coming from me.
I asked Him often why? Why was He witholding this one thing from me? Early last year, I was finally ready to listen. I've been close to Jesus my whole life. I've trusted Him with my hopes and dreams, obediently followed where He called, and faithfully believed He would do more than I ever could. But there was this one part of me that I didn't give Him completely - my shame. Because I didn't think He wanted it. I thought He wanted all of me, except that. So I let the Devil tell me that no Christian man would ever love me. That I wouldn't be worthy. I knew that was a lie, and I didn't even realize I believed it or held onto my shame until the Holy Spirit revealed it to me. But He revealed something else, too. Something much more beautiful. He revealed that God is with me in those moments that are most shameful, He sees the parts of my heart that are most sinful. And He doesn't look away. No. He looks at me and says, "not only am I here, but if you were the only person in this world, and this was the only moment I knew you, I still would have sent my Son to die on the cross for you, because that is the depth of my love for you." God doesn't love us in spite of our sin, He loves us in our sin. And I am worthy, not because of anything that I have done, but because of what Jesus did on the cross. Where I was rejected, He accepted. Where I was condemned, He redeemed. Where I was cloaked in shame, He cloaked me in righteousness. When you recognize that love in its absolute fullness, it's impossible to not delight yourself in the Lord and commit your way to Him.
I matched with Vance April 19th, 2020, in the midst of the pandemic, because, well, what else was I going to do during lockdown? Before our first date, I was sick to my stomach. I remembered the times I had been hurt, rejected, disappointed, and I was afraid it could happen again, and I wouldn't be able to deal with it again. God sweetly reminded me: "There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear. My love is perfect. It is and always will be enough." So we had our date, and we had another one. The pit shrunk as we chatted about life, God, family, and the Last Dance (God bless the Last Dance for being an outlet of sports during lockdown.) He told me I was smart and he loved that, even if it was a little intimidating. He made me giggle. He had a quiet, calming confidence about him that reminded me of my dad. He kept asking about my family, and I loved that he was so interested.
I wrote in my family's monthly update: "Also, I went on a couple dates with a guy. He's Christian, goes to my church, was willing to go on a date during quarantine (good sign), listens and mostly agrees with my all my outspoken views that this is insane*, and is generally athletic. Although his profile said he was 5'10'' and I'm a little skeptical from the eye test. Anywho, prayers for God to do with that as he pleases. I think at the very least, it's nice to have someone with a similar viewpoint in Seattle."
And so we went on more dates, and as I travelled around the country, we got to know one another better. He held me as I sobbed and wondered how I I could move back to Seattle. We gambled in an old mining town, and he told me that maybe I shouldn't keep betting just because I have a pair. I kept betting. He introduced me to a new church that was hosting in their living room and would transform my outlook on Seattle. And he laughed with me about so many things. He embraced the dome. And when he questioned whether we should continue dating, I knew God was in it. And beyond that, I knew God, not him, was my rock.
And so he met my family. He bought my nieces and nephews gifts, watched hours of home videos, played basemet PIG (and won), and laughed with all of us. I knew he'd love them, and indeed, he did. So much so, he, a native Hawaiian, would not only entertain, but embrace, the prospect of moving to Ohio. So much so that he would propose to me in front of fifteen of them on April 19th 2020, a year after we first spoke. I suspected he might do it when my brother came downstairs with his massive camera. I mean, the ice cream pie is good, but not that good. He had everyone go outside to play a game of IT (shortened version of PIG), and the fact alone that Gail walked out to the basketball court while it was drizzling meant something was happening. Had I lost, he could have proposed sooner, but since I kept draining my jumpshot, he had a couple people throw the game. And then, in the midst of all the commentary from my family, he told me this was perfect, he loved me, and I always leveled him up. And indeed, it was perfect. And he levels me up, too.
This week, my email to my family read: "Praises! We've been engaged for a month. Woo hoo! There have been so many times since this chain started that I've prayed for a husband, and here he is. God answered a lot of other prayers on the way as well, but it's pretty exciting to be able to check that one off the list!"
So here I am. He's my snaggletooth baracuda, and I'm his sugar muffin balls. Or his bubbles, or his babushka, or his pumpkin. Or whatever his nickname du jour is. He's much more creative with nicknames, and he seems to have an endless roll-a-dex of them. He tells me I'm his inspiration. He continues to teach me about myself, and I'll be honest, that's not always easy***, but it leads to growth. We talk about where we want to live, kids, our honeymoon. He talks about what God is doing, because to him, God isn't just a part of Sundays. He's alive, and He's working. He loves me, in a way that provides a glimpse of how Christ loves His church. There were so many times when I just didn't think I would know that feeling. Those years of waiting, of praying, make this answer to prayer that much sweeter because I know He was in every moment. And He will continue to be in every moment of our lives which fills me with excitement and expectation about what's next. After all, I do still desire to take over the world.
* You may remember 2016 was the winter/spring/summer of Anna during which I was explicitly not asking for a husband
** I thought about censoring this, but is anyone really surprised I thought the past year was insane? Or that I'm outspoken? And to confirm, he is 5'10''.
*** Because I feel like I'm pretty close to perfect
Photo cred to Phil Navatsyk
"One more thing... that I'll be honest, I feel silly saying, but o well. I know it's not silly. But still. I really want a relationship. And I know what God's answer is to that, which is, not right now, but in the meantime, I'm really tired from transitioning and making big decisions on my own. I'm not tired all the time, but I am tired a lot. I know whatever is next is in God's hands, too, but that's not the most comforting thought because it's been hard to this point. So... that I'll find myself completely in Him and trust Him and rely on Him solely for strength. And that He will enable me to be joyful in the process and walk righteously."
Over the past six years, that prayer has definitely resurfaced in the email chain:
2017 - "Husband. Heck, maybe just a date. Hehe." 2018 - "Along with that, dating. To everyone who got married young, you missed a pain in the butt dating scene." 2019 - "Prayers for a husband, too. When dad prays with me in the morning, he always throws that in - a Godly, covenant man, and sometimes I want to stop, because it seems like that could take forever. But it's still something I desire, so dangit, I'll pray for it."
My heart has always desired a husband. I was blessed to be surrounded by beautiful examples of family, and I'd love to build my own. He answered so many prayers throughout my twenties I'm incredibly grateful for, but a husband wasn't one of those blessings. It wasn't as if I didn't try. I went on the apps, Match.com, Tinder, some ripoff matchmaking service that actually was pretty decent but too expensive, the League. The answer was always a clear no, though, most often coming from the guy, but occasionally coming from me.
I asked Him often why? Why was He witholding this one thing from me? Early last year, I was finally ready to listen. I've been close to Jesus my whole life. I've trusted Him with my hopes and dreams, obediently followed where He called, and faithfully believed He would do more than I ever could. But there was this one part of me that I didn't give Him completely - my shame. Because I didn't think He wanted it. I thought He wanted all of me, except that. So I let the Devil tell me that no Christian man would ever love me. That I wouldn't be worthy. I knew that was a lie, and I didn't even realize I believed it or held onto my shame until the Holy Spirit revealed it to me. But He revealed something else, too. Something much more beautiful. He revealed that God is with me in those moments that are most shameful, He sees the parts of my heart that are most sinful. And He doesn't look away. No. He looks at me and says, "not only am I here, but if you were the only person in this world, and this was the only moment I knew you, I still would have sent my Son to die on the cross for you, because that is the depth of my love for you." God doesn't love us in spite of our sin, He loves us in our sin. And I am worthy, not because of anything that I have done, but because of what Jesus did on the cross. Where I was rejected, He accepted. Where I was condemned, He redeemed. Where I was cloaked in shame, He cloaked me in righteousness. When you recognize that love in its absolute fullness, it's impossible to not delight yourself in the Lord and commit your way to Him.
I matched with Vance April 19th, 2020, in the midst of the pandemic, because, well, what else was I going to do during lockdown? Before our first date, I was sick to my stomach. I remembered the times I had been hurt, rejected, disappointed, and I was afraid it could happen again, and I wouldn't be able to deal with it again. God sweetly reminded me: "There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear. My love is perfect. It is and always will be enough." So we had our date, and we had another one. The pit shrunk as we chatted about life, God, family, and the Last Dance (God bless the Last Dance for being an outlet of sports during lockdown.) He told me I was smart and he loved that, even if it was a little intimidating. He made me giggle. He had a quiet, calming confidence about him that reminded me of my dad. He kept asking about my family, and I loved that he was so interested.
I wrote in my family's monthly update: "Also, I went on a couple dates with a guy. He's Christian, goes to my church, was willing to go on a date during quarantine (good sign), listens and mostly agrees with my all my outspoken views that this is insane*, and is generally athletic. Although his profile said he was 5'10'' and I'm a little skeptical from the eye test. Anywho, prayers for God to do with that as he pleases. I think at the very least, it's nice to have someone with a similar viewpoint in Seattle."
And so we went on more dates, and as I travelled around the country, we got to know one another better. He held me as I sobbed and wondered how I I could move back to Seattle. We gambled in an old mining town, and he told me that maybe I shouldn't keep betting just because I have a pair. I kept betting. He introduced me to a new church that was hosting in their living room and would transform my outlook on Seattle. And he laughed with me about so many things. He embraced the dome. And when he questioned whether we should continue dating, I knew God was in it. And beyond that, I knew God, not him, was my rock.
And so he met my family. He bought my nieces and nephews gifts, watched hours of home videos, played basemet PIG (and won), and laughed with all of us. I knew he'd love them, and indeed, he did. So much so, he, a native Hawaiian, would not only entertain, but embrace, the prospect of moving to Ohio. So much so that he would propose to me in front of fifteen of them on April 19th 2020, a year after we first spoke. I suspected he might do it when my brother came downstairs with his massive camera. I mean, the ice cream pie is good, but not that good. He had everyone go outside to play a game of IT (shortened version of PIG), and the fact alone that Gail walked out to the basketball court while it was drizzling meant something was happening. Had I lost, he could have proposed sooner, but since I kept draining my jumpshot, he had a couple people throw the game. And then, in the midst of all the commentary from my family, he told me this was perfect, he loved me, and I always leveled him up. And indeed, it was perfect. And he levels me up, too.
This week, my email to my family read: "Praises! We've been engaged for a month. Woo hoo! There have been so many times since this chain started that I've prayed for a husband, and here he is. God answered a lot of other prayers on the way as well, but it's pretty exciting to be able to check that one off the list!"
So here I am. He's my snaggletooth baracuda, and I'm his sugar muffin balls. Or his bubbles, or his babushka, or his pumpkin. Or whatever his nickname du jour is. He's much more creative with nicknames, and he seems to have an endless roll-a-dex of them. He tells me I'm his inspiration. He continues to teach me about myself, and I'll be honest, that's not always easy***, but it leads to growth. We talk about where we want to live, kids, our honeymoon. He talks about what God is doing, because to him, God isn't just a part of Sundays. He's alive, and He's working. He loves me, in a way that provides a glimpse of how Christ loves His church. There were so many times when I just didn't think I would know that feeling. Those years of waiting, of praying, make this answer to prayer that much sweeter because I know He was in every moment. And He will continue to be in every moment of our lives which fills me with excitement and expectation about what's next. After all, I do still desire to take over the world.
* You may remember 2016 was the winter/spring/summer of Anna during which I was explicitly not asking for a husband
** I thought about censoring this, but is anyone really surprised I thought the past year was insane? Or that I'm outspoken? And to confirm, he is 5'10''.
*** Because I feel like I'm pretty close to perfect
Photo cred to Phil Navatsyk
Sunday, March 7, 2021
Happy 34th Birthday, Bro!
Hey Big Brother,
I just realized how 1984-ish that sounds. A Freudian slip that represents the time, perhaps? Hard to believe it's already been a year. I only wrote one blog post since your last birthday, but I've written a happy birthday post to you for nine years, and I can't simply neglect this ritual now. I wish I could say the world has gotten more sane since last we spoke, but I find it hard to convince myself of that. People are wearing two masks in the gym. A pastor in Canada is in prison for hosting church. Dr. Seuss books have been cancelled. I just attended a Zoom funeral. I think the most bizarre thing about the past year has been the general sentiment that we can put life on pause. But God doesn't pause. He rests, yes, but He doesn't pause. He is always working, and I have seen that so clearly this past year.
A year ago, before the craziness of the pandemic, I looked at my life and said, God, I need change. It wasn't that my life wasn't lovely. It was. I was surrounded with great friends, had a job at a company that is taking over the world, lived in a beautiful one bedroom apartment in the city with an epic view of the mountains, belonged to a church community. At the same time, most of my friends didn't have the same value system, my church community leaned liberal, my job was stressful, and when I walked out of my apartment, I felt the heaviness of a city experiencing brokenness. I deeply cherished the year and a half I had been in Seattle, but I knew if I was going to stay, things needed to change. So I started to pray: for a new job, conservative Christian friends, and a new place to live.
And then the craziness of the pandemic. A year ago today, we were told to begin working from home after one person in an adjacent building tested positive for COVID. It had made it over the pond. Incidentally, it took a full year of work from home to finally get two monitors and a full set up. Now, I do not plan on ever going back to the office. The past year has been hard for so many people for so many reasons, including me at times. I've cried, gotten angry, made mistakes, hurt people, had to navigate friendships, questioned the future. Not that that’s that different from any other year I suppose. And of course, through this, I've reminded myself how extremely blessed I am to have a job, a healthy family, and ways to cope with loneliness and isolation. The one thing that has been affirmed repeatedly over the past year, though, is this: God is faithful to those who follow Him. And I’ll be honest, Stephen, it just astounds me. Because while 2020 was so unique, in many ways, it was the most special and sweetest year.
Right before the inevitable lockdown hit, I flew back to Cleveland. Talk about privileged. I'm so privileged to have two parents who, when I was struggling alone in Seattle, said without hesitation, Anna, come stay with us. We would love to have you. There were so many precious memories in that two months at home. Chatting with Mom and Dad over a home cooked meal, Easter with my nieces and nephews, weekend nights with my sister and brother-in-law, hours of Pandemic with Phil and Courtny, seeing Lydia and her sweet kiddos, spending hours on my cousins' couch. Discussing the insanity that was happening. Turns out, my parents did a very fine job in indoctrinating all of us to live with a similar worldview: extreme skepticism of power, unless it is the power of the almighty God. My family has had many disagreements in the past, but on this, we agree wholeheartedly.
I returned to Seattle, but I knew I needed to escape the bubble to maintain sanity. I spent a month in Montana. Stephen, the world is so beautiful, and our country is magnificent. I met a store owner who had moved back to the small town to open a cute shop that highlighted products from women. I went to an event she had with an entrepenuer showcasing her facial care. I chatted with the older women, caught up on town gossip (practically a local, and apparently the landowner was a real jerk), met Tom Brokaw's wife, as well as a member of the Cowgirl Hall of Fame. I spent evenings at the saloon on a dirt road, with a sign that said f* your feelings and cowboys coming and going. We went to Yellowstone, the Grand Tetones, Mt Rushmore. We stopped at this cute little mining town called Deadwood that made you feel like you were whisked away to a Disney World type 1800s theme park, complete with the bar where Cowboy Bill was shot because of a winning poker hand. Lesson learned: don't sit with your back to the door.
I spent a month in Idaho. I went to an outdoor concert, and after 15 minutes of sitting by myself, a woman asked if I wanted a long island iced tea. My general rule is: if someone suggests a LIIT, they are a hoot, and you should accept. And so I did. I learned about her military career, spending her stimulus check to buy five guns, and her refusal to send her kids to public school. I visited Glacier National Park, and decided that, yes, I was going to buy a home near there. Perhaps a good home for my wine bar, Valentine Pour.
I spent a month on a 40-acre ranch in Southwest Colorado where you had to drive 45 minutes for reception. I didn't meet anyone there, but thankfully, Phil and Courtny came to keep me company. We laughed so much, paid minimal attention to the election, visited four National Parks, gazed at the beautiful stars in the silence of the country, made a bomb lip sync video, and watched the Browns win a game. Stephen, the Browns were decent this year. Absolutely crazy.
Somewhere in all of this, God also brought a man into my life. He's so wonderful. His name is Vance (Vaghnce is you want to be pretentious). He likes sports, loves God, and really loves me. He can handle my rants, which is very important to the health of a relationship with me. And he laughs at my jokes and is almost as weird as I am. Plus, he came home for Christmas and he loves our family. He wants to move to Ohio. I never thought I'd meet a man who wanted to move to Ohio - especially one from Hawaii. To be honest, I didn't really know if I'd meet a man to love. I'll tell you more about him soon, and I'll bring him to say hi to you, but I'm super excited for what God has for us.
I didn't even pray for any of that (though I guess I'm always praying for a loving man), but as Ephesians 3:20 says, "God will do abundantly more than we ask or think." As for my prayers, he answered them so beautifully. First, Vance had started going to this new church whose values align with those of my home church. Going to church in person, worshipping in a spirit filled room, and being fed the word has been so life giving and encouraging. In November, I was rejected for an internal position, and though I submitted an application for a townhouse, someone had beat me to it. Frustrated, I messaged the pastor's wife, Emma, and asked for prayer for a housing situation. God closes doors and opens doors, and as I believed he would, he gave me a new job at Amazon before the end of 2020. He waited until the last day, but he gave it to me. Beyond that, someone in our church was remodeling the first floor of their new home, and they wanted to rent it to someone in the church.
So here I am, Stephen. Vance is napping in the other room, and while we have our hurdles as all couples do, I love growing closer to him in our walk with God. I'm living with a Christian roommate in a home owned by Christians. The neighborhood is peaceful, and I thoroughly enjoy my walks with the woman who owns the house, gawking at the beautiful properties and chatting about everything from church to family to politics. I have so many conservative leaning Christian connections, it's hard to count. Who knew they existed in Seattle. I've started going to two Bible studies, both which have been instructive and challenging. My new job is drastically different than the last, and I find myself having to get used to the lack of stress thus far.
Dad always told me growing up, "Anna, the middle ground is disappearing." I called him at one point this summer and said, "Dad, you were right about everything." Stephen, I'm super curious to see what God is doing right now. Unfortunately, I'm not privy to that blueprint. Perhaps you could give me some intel. I do think the middle ground is disappearing. But if the middle ground requires me to neglect the Truth of the Gospel and God's Word, then I want no part of it. Because the only answer to so many of the questions from the past year are God. The only answer to brokenness, sin, pain, hate, division, hurt is God, and the love that led Him to send His Son to die for our sins. And the question becomes, where do we put our hope? Do we put it in scientists, experts, our health, government, circumstances, people? No. Those will all fail us. There is only one who doesn't fail. Who continues working when the world says to pause or when the Devil thinks he’s won. I'm so grateful he has shown Himself strong this past year, and as Samuel said at the rock of Ebenezer, "thus far, He has been faithful."
I miss you, Stephen. What a good reminder your life is that, “In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” I am forever grateful for your sacrifice. And I can't wait to see you again.
A year ago, before the craziness of the pandemic, I looked at my life and said, God, I need change. It wasn't that my life wasn't lovely. It was. I was surrounded with great friends, had a job at a company that is taking over the world, lived in a beautiful one bedroom apartment in the city with an epic view of the mountains, belonged to a church community. At the same time, most of my friends didn't have the same value system, my church community leaned liberal, my job was stressful, and when I walked out of my apartment, I felt the heaviness of a city experiencing brokenness. I deeply cherished the year and a half I had been in Seattle, but I knew if I was going to stay, things needed to change. So I started to pray: for a new job, conservative Christian friends, and a new place to live.
And then the craziness of the pandemic. A year ago today, we were told to begin working from home after one person in an adjacent building tested positive for COVID. It had made it over the pond. Incidentally, it took a full year of work from home to finally get two monitors and a full set up. Now, I do not plan on ever going back to the office. The past year has been hard for so many people for so many reasons, including me at times. I've cried, gotten angry, made mistakes, hurt people, had to navigate friendships, questioned the future. Not that that’s that different from any other year I suppose. And of course, through this, I've reminded myself how extremely blessed I am to have a job, a healthy family, and ways to cope with loneliness and isolation. The one thing that has been affirmed repeatedly over the past year, though, is this: God is faithful to those who follow Him. And I’ll be honest, Stephen, it just astounds me. Because while 2020 was so unique, in many ways, it was the most special and sweetest year.
Right before the inevitable lockdown hit, I flew back to Cleveland. Talk about privileged. I'm so privileged to have two parents who, when I was struggling alone in Seattle, said without hesitation, Anna, come stay with us. We would love to have you. There were so many precious memories in that two months at home. Chatting with Mom and Dad over a home cooked meal, Easter with my nieces and nephews, weekend nights with my sister and brother-in-law, hours of Pandemic with Phil and Courtny, seeing Lydia and her sweet kiddos, spending hours on my cousins' couch. Discussing the insanity that was happening. Turns out, my parents did a very fine job in indoctrinating all of us to live with a similar worldview: extreme skepticism of power, unless it is the power of the almighty God. My family has had many disagreements in the past, but on this, we agree wholeheartedly.
I returned to Seattle, but I knew I needed to escape the bubble to maintain sanity. I spent a month in Montana. Stephen, the world is so beautiful, and our country is magnificent. I met a store owner who had moved back to the small town to open a cute shop that highlighted products from women. I went to an event she had with an entrepenuer showcasing her facial care. I chatted with the older women, caught up on town gossip (practically a local, and apparently the landowner was a real jerk), met Tom Brokaw's wife, as well as a member of the Cowgirl Hall of Fame. I spent evenings at the saloon on a dirt road, with a sign that said f* your feelings and cowboys coming and going. We went to Yellowstone, the Grand Tetones, Mt Rushmore. We stopped at this cute little mining town called Deadwood that made you feel like you were whisked away to a Disney World type 1800s theme park, complete with the bar where Cowboy Bill was shot because of a winning poker hand. Lesson learned: don't sit with your back to the door.
I spent a month in Idaho. I went to an outdoor concert, and after 15 minutes of sitting by myself, a woman asked if I wanted a long island iced tea. My general rule is: if someone suggests a LIIT, they are a hoot, and you should accept. And so I did. I learned about her military career, spending her stimulus check to buy five guns, and her refusal to send her kids to public school. I visited Glacier National Park, and decided that, yes, I was going to buy a home near there. Perhaps a good home for my wine bar, Valentine Pour.
I spent a month on a 40-acre ranch in Southwest Colorado where you had to drive 45 minutes for reception. I didn't meet anyone there, but thankfully, Phil and Courtny came to keep me company. We laughed so much, paid minimal attention to the election, visited four National Parks, gazed at the beautiful stars in the silence of the country, made a bomb lip sync video, and watched the Browns win a game. Stephen, the Browns were decent this year. Absolutely crazy.
Somewhere in all of this, God also brought a man into my life. He's so wonderful. His name is Vance (Vaghnce is you want to be pretentious). He likes sports, loves God, and really loves me. He can handle my rants, which is very important to the health of a relationship with me. And he laughs at my jokes and is almost as weird as I am. Plus, he came home for Christmas and he loves our family. He wants to move to Ohio. I never thought I'd meet a man who wanted to move to Ohio - especially one from Hawaii. To be honest, I didn't really know if I'd meet a man to love. I'll tell you more about him soon, and I'll bring him to say hi to you, but I'm super excited for what God has for us.
I didn't even pray for any of that (though I guess I'm always praying for a loving man), but as Ephesians 3:20 says, "God will do abundantly more than we ask or think." As for my prayers, he answered them so beautifully. First, Vance had started going to this new church whose values align with those of my home church. Going to church in person, worshipping in a spirit filled room, and being fed the word has been so life giving and encouraging. In November, I was rejected for an internal position, and though I submitted an application for a townhouse, someone had beat me to it. Frustrated, I messaged the pastor's wife, Emma, and asked for prayer for a housing situation. God closes doors and opens doors, and as I believed he would, he gave me a new job at Amazon before the end of 2020. He waited until the last day, but he gave it to me. Beyond that, someone in our church was remodeling the first floor of their new home, and they wanted to rent it to someone in the church.
So here I am, Stephen. Vance is napping in the other room, and while we have our hurdles as all couples do, I love growing closer to him in our walk with God. I'm living with a Christian roommate in a home owned by Christians. The neighborhood is peaceful, and I thoroughly enjoy my walks with the woman who owns the house, gawking at the beautiful properties and chatting about everything from church to family to politics. I have so many conservative leaning Christian connections, it's hard to count. Who knew they existed in Seattle. I've started going to two Bible studies, both which have been instructive and challenging. My new job is drastically different than the last, and I find myself having to get used to the lack of stress thus far.
Dad always told me growing up, "Anna, the middle ground is disappearing." I called him at one point this summer and said, "Dad, you were right about everything." Stephen, I'm super curious to see what God is doing right now. Unfortunately, I'm not privy to that blueprint. Perhaps you could give me some intel. I do think the middle ground is disappearing. But if the middle ground requires me to neglect the Truth of the Gospel and God's Word, then I want no part of it. Because the only answer to so many of the questions from the past year are God. The only answer to brokenness, sin, pain, hate, division, hurt is God, and the love that led Him to send His Son to die for our sins. And the question becomes, where do we put our hope? Do we put it in scientists, experts, our health, government, circumstances, people? No. Those will all fail us. There is only one who doesn't fail. Who continues working when the world says to pause or when the Devil thinks he’s won. I'm so grateful he has shown Himself strong this past year, and as Samuel said at the rock of Ebenezer, "thus far, He has been faithful."
I miss you, Stephen. What a good reminder your life is that, “In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” I am forever grateful for your sacrifice. And I can't wait to see you again.
Tuesday, May 19, 2020
All the Things I've Missed in Quarantine
Hi friend. We're going on week ten of quarantine. Or eleven, or nine. Who's counting? I came back to Washington. I missed the mountains. I wish I could move my entire family to Washington, because I love both them and the mountains. I have to be honest. Tonight, I'm mad, and I'm sad. And I'm going to be okay with that, because I know tomorrow I'll be better. But tonight - I hate this virus. I hate that it's taken lives. I hate that it's taken jobs. I hate that it's divisive. I hate that it's threatened civil liberties that the Constitution taught me are unalienable rights. I hate that it's taken my power to choose. So I will apologize in advance that I'm not going to discuss all the great things about quarantine and how I'm being productive, learning a new skill, really getting in tune with my inner self and feeling ultra-centered, becoming a yogi, master chef, or mixologist. Tonight, I'm going to talk about all the things I miss. And let's be honest, I'm doing it as I drink wine.
I miss sports. Man, how good was The Last Dance? I didn't like the Bulls. I hate dynasties. But it's undeniable. What Michael Jordan did for the city of Chicago and the game of basketball was legendary. Sports are heroic. They're pure and a beacon of hope in hardship. Not only to towns, cities, or countries, but to the athletes who play. They give life.
I miss concerts. O, how I miss the power of live music. Walking over the hill at the Gorge, beckoned by the call of Birmingham by Shovels and Rope. "Rock of ages, cleave for me, let me hide myself in thee." I had just moved to Seattle, and it was hard. I hate transition. I hate loneliness. But in those moments, I hid in the transcendent power of music, and it lifted me. I danced my heart out for hours, and was reminded of the beauty in the world and in me. It gave me life.
I miss tennis. I mean, let's be honest, the only reason I was successful at tennis is because it's a naturally social distanced sport. We all know if I'm within six feet of someone, I'm compelled to speak. Yet, wires are on every court. Apparently now you are able to play tennis as long as you only touch your own balls. Lord, I never thought that would be a statement I would type. Quite frankly, I'm considering licking my own balls in protest. I miss the weight room. Because nothing else matters on the tennis court. Or in the weight room. You can leave your stressful job, your disappointments, your shame, your anger at that guy who was a total jerk, that fight you had with your friend, at the door. And for however long you're on the court, or in the weight room, the only thing that matters is that next point, or that next lift. And when you win a match, or nail a PR - there is life in that.
I miss restaurants. Having a beer after a hard day of work. Enjoying an intricately prepared dish with a glass of wine over good conversation and laughter. Crying to a dear friend over a brownie sundae because life's just been hard lately. There is life in that.
I miss travel. The world holds so much of God's beauty to be explored that clearly displays his magnificence. I climbed Mount Baker last year. Sitting at base camp, watching the sunset over the mountain ranges for 360 degrees, I was at peace. I had just completed my first year at Amazon, through all the highs and lows, and summiting provided a warm sense of accomplishment, a strength to tackle another year and new challenges. It gave me life.
I miss my friends. Everyone has a varying level of comfort in all of this. And indeed, much of it stems from a strong sense of social responsibility, which I understand. It is thoughtful. At the same time, it's freakin weird, and I think it's fair to acknowledge that. I don't know what the rules are. If I go on a date, will my other friends see me? Can I go on a walk with two different people at the same time or should I go at two different times? If I sneeze because of allergies, should I sequester myself for weeks? If I hang out with three people outside, can I also hang out with them inside? If I run into a friend, can I hug them? Should I talk at a safe distance? Or am I only allowed to go on walks by myself? And maybe casually run into someone, talk for no more than five minutes, then continue on my own? What are the rules? No one knows. And I get it. We're all just figuring this out and trying to do it in the best way possible based on our personal values, but it's freakin hard, because I like spending time with humans. Humans give me life.
I miss eye contact. You don't get that on conference calls. You get scattered eyes and broken voices. I miss having a two minute drive by in the hallway before a meeting. I miss the energy derived from a quality brainstorm. Work from home is doable, and for some, it is ideal. For others, including myself, it is exhausting. I live in an 800 square foot apartment, and my job entails daily arguments with multiple stakeholders. And it involves expectation. High expectation to deliver. I feed off of other people's energy. I feed off of a smile in the elevator, a casual conversation in the hallway, a meeting where we get to laugh. Now, I speak once a week to a meeting of thirty people, and every time, it is impossible to read the room. Because there is no room. I don't know who's listening, who's engaged, who's sleeping on the call.* There's no natural back and forth discussion, though of course, I've implemented all the key success tactics for "leading a quality video conference call." Shoot. I don't get to bring them cookies. I love bringing them cookies. Those moments give me life.
I miss church. I miss worship. I miss gathering with a group of other Christians, lifting my hands in praise, feeling the overwhelming presence of God's love and power. There is an intimate aspect of worshiping within your home, but there is a reason churches gather corporately. It gives us life.
Of course, all of this could seem superficial and selfish. How could I be thinking about sports when people are dying? PEOPLE ARE DYING, ANNA. DO YOU HATE LIVES? I don't hate lives. I love lives, actually. Lives are my favorite. Lives and laughter. And though I sincerely don't mean to discount the deaths due to COVID, you're entitled to see it as such. And if it seems I am comparing missing a concert to dying, I have not effectively conveyed my message, because I don't mean that, either. But I promised when I started writing this blog, I would be honest and raw, and though I know my thoughts won't be popular with all, if I don't write, I would not be honoring that promise. And in this area, I feel particularly convicted**. Because sports isn't just sports. And restaurants aren't just restaurants. And friendship isn't just friendship. These non-essential things are what take us from day to day, week to week.*** They empower us to overcome hardship, to face the world a bit stronger and enthusiastically. These things are human. And it is human to touch, to hug. It is human to experience. It is human to fight. And, indeed, it is human to die.
A close coworker died suddenly the other day. He was around my age and a friend, and the thought of him dying alone with no chance to offer memorial in the way of a service is devastating. Coronavirus isn't the only source of death, nor is it the only thing we are fighting. We are fighting poverty, hunger, socioeconomic disparity, depression, anxiety, loneliness. We are fighting cancer, thousands of other diseases, hatred, the loss of freedom. In fighting this one particular disease, we have denied ourselves that which is life giving. And while we may "defeat" COVID, whatever that moving target ends up being, if it comes at the expense of all the others, then is it worth it? I'm not saying I have the answer. But I'm saying if we don't ask the question, removing the intense emotion and fear that surrounds this disease, then we're not doing our due diligence. Because it's not as simple as one fewer COVID death = victory.
Why don't I just go back to my Zoom happy hour, watch some Netflix, and shut up? I mean, honestly, what a privileged sadness I'm having. After all, my life won't change much. I'm still getting paid. I'm young and healthy. And the dust will settle. This will end. Life will go back to a semblance of normal, though for some, their lives will be forever impacted, whether by death, loss of business, extreme depression, poverty. I'll get my restaurants and concerts back. But this will happen again. It may be another virus. It may be cybersecurity. This time, it shut down restaurants, entertainment, sports. What if next time, it shuts down the entire technology industry and we're forbidden to use the Internet? We won't even have memes to save us. It may be something I haven't even heard of yet. How do we learn from this, prepare, and decide what our reaction will be when the next time comes? And if we as a country decide we want to give the government the ability to forcibly shut down any business and any natural part of human life when experts deem it necessary for the good of the people, then I will accept that decision. I may move to Antarctica, but I will accept the decision. But that's a decision that we need to confront, that we need to engage critically in, and that we need to make as free people. And, personally, I think we can do better.
I love the mountains, but valleys are beautiful as well. Seattle is nestled between the Olympic mountains to the West, the Cascades to the East, Rainier to the South, and Baker to the North. I don't think it's geographically such, but it feels like a valley. Every time I see them, I'm breath-taken with such a clear image of God's glory and steadfastness. He was here before this, He weeps with all during this, and He will be here after this. My favorite song of 2020 quotes: "From the greatest of all valleys, come the pastures we call grace." Y'all. This is a valley. You may vehemently disagree with 90% of what I just wrote (though I'd be surprised because who doesn't miss concerts and restaurants. You probably just vehemently disagreed with 60% of what I just wrote). To be honest, I vehemently disagree with so much of what I hear. That doesn't negate the need for grace. For yourself, for others and their experience. Have grace. Listen to a different viewpoint. Understand other people's reasons. And know that while we're on this earth, humanity is broken, and outside of Christ, we will continue to experience death and division, but we have a unique opportunity to fight that, enter the pasture of grace, and emerge the other side with creative solutions that are life giving rather than life taking.
* Obviously, I also use this time to test out my stand up and assume everyone is laughing.
** For those familiar with the enneagram, I am a seven, which means I define my life by the experiences I have, so this could be part of the reason my conviction is so strong.
*** And of course, they employ millions.
I miss sports. Man, how good was The Last Dance? I didn't like the Bulls. I hate dynasties. But it's undeniable. What Michael Jordan did for the city of Chicago and the game of basketball was legendary. Sports are heroic. They're pure and a beacon of hope in hardship. Not only to towns, cities, or countries, but to the athletes who play. They give life.
I miss concerts. O, how I miss the power of live music. Walking over the hill at the Gorge, beckoned by the call of Birmingham by Shovels and Rope. "Rock of ages, cleave for me, let me hide myself in thee." I had just moved to Seattle, and it was hard. I hate transition. I hate loneliness. But in those moments, I hid in the transcendent power of music, and it lifted me. I danced my heart out for hours, and was reminded of the beauty in the world and in me. It gave me life.
I miss tennis. I mean, let's be honest, the only reason I was successful at tennis is because it's a naturally social distanced sport. We all know if I'm within six feet of someone, I'm compelled to speak. Yet, wires are on every court. Apparently now you are able to play tennis as long as you only touch your own balls. Lord, I never thought that would be a statement I would type. Quite frankly, I'm considering licking my own balls in protest. I miss the weight room. Because nothing else matters on the tennis court. Or in the weight room. You can leave your stressful job, your disappointments, your shame, your anger at that guy who was a total jerk, that fight you had with your friend, at the door. And for however long you're on the court, or in the weight room, the only thing that matters is that next point, or that next lift. And when you win a match, or nail a PR - there is life in that.
I miss restaurants. Having a beer after a hard day of work. Enjoying an intricately prepared dish with a glass of wine over good conversation and laughter. Crying to a dear friend over a brownie sundae because life's just been hard lately. There is life in that.
I miss travel. The world holds so much of God's beauty to be explored that clearly displays his magnificence. I climbed Mount Baker last year. Sitting at base camp, watching the sunset over the mountain ranges for 360 degrees, I was at peace. I had just completed my first year at Amazon, through all the highs and lows, and summiting provided a warm sense of accomplishment, a strength to tackle another year and new challenges. It gave me life.
I miss my friends. Everyone has a varying level of comfort in all of this. And indeed, much of it stems from a strong sense of social responsibility, which I understand. It is thoughtful. At the same time, it's freakin weird, and I think it's fair to acknowledge that. I don't know what the rules are. If I go on a date, will my other friends see me? Can I go on a walk with two different people at the same time or should I go at two different times? If I sneeze because of allergies, should I sequester myself for weeks? If I hang out with three people outside, can I also hang out with them inside? If I run into a friend, can I hug them? Should I talk at a safe distance? Or am I only allowed to go on walks by myself? And maybe casually run into someone, talk for no more than five minutes, then continue on my own? What are the rules? No one knows. And I get it. We're all just figuring this out and trying to do it in the best way possible based on our personal values, but it's freakin hard, because I like spending time with humans. Humans give me life.
I miss eye contact. You don't get that on conference calls. You get scattered eyes and broken voices. I miss having a two minute drive by in the hallway before a meeting. I miss the energy derived from a quality brainstorm. Work from home is doable, and for some, it is ideal. For others, including myself, it is exhausting. I live in an 800 square foot apartment, and my job entails daily arguments with multiple stakeholders. And it involves expectation. High expectation to deliver. I feed off of other people's energy. I feed off of a smile in the elevator, a casual conversation in the hallway, a meeting where we get to laugh. Now, I speak once a week to a meeting of thirty people, and every time, it is impossible to read the room. Because there is no room. I don't know who's listening, who's engaged, who's sleeping on the call.* There's no natural back and forth discussion, though of course, I've implemented all the key success tactics for "leading a quality video conference call." Shoot. I don't get to bring them cookies. I love bringing them cookies. Those moments give me life.
I miss church. I miss worship. I miss gathering with a group of other Christians, lifting my hands in praise, feeling the overwhelming presence of God's love and power. There is an intimate aspect of worshiping within your home, but there is a reason churches gather corporately. It gives us life.
Of course, all of this could seem superficial and selfish. How could I be thinking about sports when people are dying? PEOPLE ARE DYING, ANNA. DO YOU HATE LIVES? I don't hate lives. I love lives, actually. Lives are my favorite. Lives and laughter. And though I sincerely don't mean to discount the deaths due to COVID, you're entitled to see it as such. And if it seems I am comparing missing a concert to dying, I have not effectively conveyed my message, because I don't mean that, either. But I promised when I started writing this blog, I would be honest and raw, and though I know my thoughts won't be popular with all, if I don't write, I would not be honoring that promise. And in this area, I feel particularly convicted**. Because sports isn't just sports. And restaurants aren't just restaurants. And friendship isn't just friendship. These non-essential things are what take us from day to day, week to week.*** They empower us to overcome hardship, to face the world a bit stronger and enthusiastically. These things are human. And it is human to touch, to hug. It is human to experience. It is human to fight. And, indeed, it is human to die.
A close coworker died suddenly the other day. He was around my age and a friend, and the thought of him dying alone with no chance to offer memorial in the way of a service is devastating. Coronavirus isn't the only source of death, nor is it the only thing we are fighting. We are fighting poverty, hunger, socioeconomic disparity, depression, anxiety, loneliness. We are fighting cancer, thousands of other diseases, hatred, the loss of freedom. In fighting this one particular disease, we have denied ourselves that which is life giving. And while we may "defeat" COVID, whatever that moving target ends up being, if it comes at the expense of all the others, then is it worth it? I'm not saying I have the answer. But I'm saying if we don't ask the question, removing the intense emotion and fear that surrounds this disease, then we're not doing our due diligence. Because it's not as simple as one fewer COVID death = victory.
Why don't I just go back to my Zoom happy hour, watch some Netflix, and shut up? I mean, honestly, what a privileged sadness I'm having. After all, my life won't change much. I'm still getting paid. I'm young and healthy. And the dust will settle. This will end. Life will go back to a semblance of normal, though for some, their lives will be forever impacted, whether by death, loss of business, extreme depression, poverty. I'll get my restaurants and concerts back. But this will happen again. It may be another virus. It may be cybersecurity. This time, it shut down restaurants, entertainment, sports. What if next time, it shuts down the entire technology industry and we're forbidden to use the Internet? We won't even have memes to save us. It may be something I haven't even heard of yet. How do we learn from this, prepare, and decide what our reaction will be when the next time comes? And if we as a country decide we want to give the government the ability to forcibly shut down any business and any natural part of human life when experts deem it necessary for the good of the people, then I will accept that decision. I may move to Antarctica, but I will accept the decision. But that's a decision that we need to confront, that we need to engage critically in, and that we need to make as free people. And, personally, I think we can do better.
I love the mountains, but valleys are beautiful as well. Seattle is nestled between the Olympic mountains to the West, the Cascades to the East, Rainier to the South, and Baker to the North. I don't think it's geographically such, but it feels like a valley. Every time I see them, I'm breath-taken with such a clear image of God's glory and steadfastness. He was here before this, He weeps with all during this, and He will be here after this. My favorite song of 2020 quotes: "From the greatest of all valleys, come the pastures we call grace." Y'all. This is a valley. You may vehemently disagree with 90% of what I just wrote (though I'd be surprised because who doesn't miss concerts and restaurants. You probably just vehemently disagreed with 60% of what I just wrote). To be honest, I vehemently disagree with so much of what I hear. That doesn't negate the need for grace. For yourself, for others and their experience. Have grace. Listen to a different viewpoint. Understand other people's reasons. And know that while we're on this earth, humanity is broken, and outside of Christ, we will continue to experience death and division, but we have a unique opportunity to fight that, enter the pasture of grace, and emerge the other side with creative solutions that are life giving rather than life taking.
* Obviously, I also use this time to test out my stand up and assume everyone is laughing.
** For those familiar with the enneagram, I am a seven, which means I define my life by the experiences I have, so this could be part of the reason my conviction is so strong.
*** And of course, they employ millions.
Saturday, March 28, 2020
Happy Birthday, Stephen! What Do You Think about This?
Hi there, Stephen. Happy belated! I'm late again, but at least this year, I'm writing in the appropriate month. I'm writing from Mom and Dad’s, a land flowing with toilet paper and cleaning supplies. I spent the last week playing Pandemic with Phil and his wife, attempting to save the world, and watching the Lord of the Rings trilogy to put our current situation in perspective. Sure, I worked a long week at Amazon, but that was the third most stressful part of my week. Pandemic is an intense game. Tensions were high. And I now have an irrational hatred of Johannesburg, because it’s really inconvenient to cure.
Yes, I flew home. One may think that I’m skirting my social responsibility in the era of the new normal to flatten the curve by social distancing during these uncertain times. Boom. Buzz word bomb. To them I say, I understand your concern, but I think it's best for the world I am home with family, because there's no telling what scheme I would concoct if I were alone in my apartment for another week. Those walls were getting weird, and I may have committed a crime just to be in a cell and feel the hot, stinky breath of another human.
I don’t know if you’ve been watching from up there, and I hope you haven’t because there are so many cooler things to explore, but the world’s weird right now. I’ve had so many questions. For instance:
Why didn’t I preemptively secure a quarantine boyfriend?
Who have I rejected that could be a quarantine boyfriend?
Who has rejected me who I could convince to be my quarantine boyfriend?
You think that homeless guy is single?
Why was I just rejected by a homeless guy? This is a new low.
Why is six feet the magic number? Why not five or seven? Does anyone else feel like they’re Pigpen from Charlie Brown comics with a cloud of dust around them?
Woah. Does Italy have a healthcare system?
Will the stock market dive or soar today? Is the stock market a schizophrenic falcon?
Am I in a subpar Black Mirror episode?
Can we get rid of social media? But keep the memes? And have an awards ceremony similar to the Oscars to reward the memes?
Can we get to 2021 so we can do a fascinating retrospective? One prediction based on absolutely no scientific knowledge: post re-integration, unexpected pregnancies of single adults sky rocket
What’s going to be the buzz word for re-integration? Social integrating? Social blending? Social exploring? Social testing? Social dabbling? By the way, I’ve trademarked all these terms.
Okay. I’m done. You get it. Stephen, what is going on? I’ve had so many questions in the past six weeks, but when I consider what really matters, it’s this: how do I address fear?
Yes, my heart goes out to those who have lost loved ones or are concerned about loved ones, but honestly, I see losing loved ones as a natural part of life - one that, however sad, I am accustomed to. I understand how to grieve that loss, and I know that when the time comes for me to die, I will be reunited with you. I don’t mean to belittle those who have that fear in this situation, but it’s just not mine.
What hurts my heart is it seems a certain joy has been suspended in the world. Streets that once bustled are eerily quiet, a palpable tension in the air. People look at one another with suspicion. Strangers don't smile when they hear my loud laugh. And you know I love to laugh. I'm not quite sure how to grieve that loss, even if it is temporary. Though my fear is not death, if I allow my thoughts to wander, I, too, will venture down the path of fear. I think about lost jobs, broken families, failed businesses, depression, anxiety, suicides, the power of government and of disease. Then I scroll through memes to distract myself. And then I think about Jesus.
A verse I have clung to for years is 1 John 4:18: "There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear." What is a perfect love? And what does it look like to live without fear? Mary Magdalene was a prominent woman in the gospels of the New Testament. Before Jesus entered her life, she was possessed by demons, living a life of shame, prostitution, abuse. Her life was without purpose. She was lost, broken, alone. And then Jesus came to her. He sought her and rescued her. When no one knew who she truly was, He called her by name and invited her to follow Him.
After Jesus’ death, the other disciples went to their homes, hiding in fear, as they expected the Romans would crucify them next. Though Jesus had promised He would rise on the third day, in their fear, they had forgotten that promise. He had not established a kingdom as they expected, and they were doubtful of His sovereignty. But Mary waited by His tomb. She clung to Jesus’ promises because she knew His love for her so intimately, and she knew that whatever was in this world, it paled in comparison.
“The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy,” and right now, it is all too obvious. He wants to steal our joy, kill those close to us, either through death or disagreement, destroy our hope. It is easy to doubt the sovereignty of God as we look at brokenness of the world. But there is a promise in the same breath: “I have come that they may have life, and might have it abundantly.” That life is not in this world, but in yours, Stephen.
It can certainly be hard to have perspective. We live in a culture of sound bites. The perspective that matters though, doesn’t revolve around sound bites. Very simply, it revolves around Jesus. He is the One who calls us by name in our utter brokenness and promises us a life abundant, which is something we will never get on this earth. And when we try to control this world, He gently says, no, this world is not yours, it is mine. He is no stranger to history. He has been steadfast in the past, He remains steadfast now, and He will be steadfast for eternity. Outside of Jesus, the world is hopeless. The world is uncertain. But with Jesus, there is certainty.
There’s something about home, Stephen. It’s just so nice. It’s peaceful, and maybe it’s because whenever I come to visit, I never do anything, so quarantining here feels quite natural, but it’s safe, reassuring. I’m so grateful that in all of this, I am able to work remotely, I have a family who I enjoy spending time with, and when this lifts, my life will likely return to what it was. I don’t take for granted that others are not that fortunate. More than that, though, I’m so grateful that Jesus came to me, in my brokenness, my shame, my life without purpose, and He called me by name and asked me to follow him, promising a life abundant. Did he call me Anna or Ana? Good question. That’s between Him and me, but he did call me. Stephen, I’m excited for the day I get to really meet you. I’m also excited for what God has to do with me on earth and how He can use the current environment to reveal Himself, because as silly as this world can be sometimes, it is a small picture of something greater that God has prepared for us. And, friend, while it is undoubtedly broken, it is still so beautiful.
Yes, I flew home. One may think that I’m skirting my social responsibility in the era of the new normal to flatten the curve by social distancing during these uncertain times. Boom. Buzz word bomb. To them I say, I understand your concern, but I think it's best for the world I am home with family, because there's no telling what scheme I would concoct if I were alone in my apartment for another week. Those walls were getting weird, and I may have committed a crime just to be in a cell and feel the hot, stinky breath of another human.
I don’t know if you’ve been watching from up there, and I hope you haven’t because there are so many cooler things to explore, but the world’s weird right now. I’ve had so many questions. For instance:
Why didn’t I preemptively secure a quarantine boyfriend?
Who have I rejected that could be a quarantine boyfriend?
Who has rejected me who I could convince to be my quarantine boyfriend?
You think that homeless guy is single?
Why was I just rejected by a homeless guy? This is a new low.
Why is six feet the magic number? Why not five or seven? Does anyone else feel like they’re Pigpen from Charlie Brown comics with a cloud of dust around them?
Woah. Does Italy have a healthcare system?
Will the stock market dive or soar today? Is the stock market a schizophrenic falcon?
Am I in a subpar Black Mirror episode?
Can we get rid of social media? But keep the memes? And have an awards ceremony similar to the Oscars to reward the memes?
Can we get to 2021 so we can do a fascinating retrospective? One prediction based on absolutely no scientific knowledge: post re-integration, unexpected pregnancies of single adults sky rocket
What’s going to be the buzz word for re-integration? Social integrating? Social blending? Social exploring? Social testing? Social dabbling? By the way, I’ve trademarked all these terms.
Okay. I’m done. You get it. Stephen, what is going on? I’ve had so many questions in the past six weeks, but when I consider what really matters, it’s this: how do I address fear?
Yes, my heart goes out to those who have lost loved ones or are concerned about loved ones, but honestly, I see losing loved ones as a natural part of life - one that, however sad, I am accustomed to. I understand how to grieve that loss, and I know that when the time comes for me to die, I will be reunited with you. I don’t mean to belittle those who have that fear in this situation, but it’s just not mine.
What hurts my heart is it seems a certain joy has been suspended in the world. Streets that once bustled are eerily quiet, a palpable tension in the air. People look at one another with suspicion. Strangers don't smile when they hear my loud laugh. And you know I love to laugh. I'm not quite sure how to grieve that loss, even if it is temporary. Though my fear is not death, if I allow my thoughts to wander, I, too, will venture down the path of fear. I think about lost jobs, broken families, failed businesses, depression, anxiety, suicides, the power of government and of disease. Then I scroll through memes to distract myself. And then I think about Jesus.
A verse I have clung to for years is 1 John 4:18: "There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear." What is a perfect love? And what does it look like to live without fear? Mary Magdalene was a prominent woman in the gospels of the New Testament. Before Jesus entered her life, she was possessed by demons, living a life of shame, prostitution, abuse. Her life was without purpose. She was lost, broken, alone. And then Jesus came to her. He sought her and rescued her. When no one knew who she truly was, He called her by name and invited her to follow Him.
After Jesus’ death, the other disciples went to their homes, hiding in fear, as they expected the Romans would crucify them next. Though Jesus had promised He would rise on the third day, in their fear, they had forgotten that promise. He had not established a kingdom as they expected, and they were doubtful of His sovereignty. But Mary waited by His tomb. She clung to Jesus’ promises because she knew His love for her so intimately, and she knew that whatever was in this world, it paled in comparison.
“The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy,” and right now, it is all too obvious. He wants to steal our joy, kill those close to us, either through death or disagreement, destroy our hope. It is easy to doubt the sovereignty of God as we look at brokenness of the world. But there is a promise in the same breath: “I have come that they may have life, and might have it abundantly.” That life is not in this world, but in yours, Stephen.
It can certainly be hard to have perspective. We live in a culture of sound bites. The perspective that matters though, doesn’t revolve around sound bites. Very simply, it revolves around Jesus. He is the One who calls us by name in our utter brokenness and promises us a life abundant, which is something we will never get on this earth. And when we try to control this world, He gently says, no, this world is not yours, it is mine. He is no stranger to history. He has been steadfast in the past, He remains steadfast now, and He will be steadfast for eternity. Outside of Jesus, the world is hopeless. The world is uncertain. But with Jesus, there is certainty.
There’s something about home, Stephen. It’s just so nice. It’s peaceful, and maybe it’s because whenever I come to visit, I never do anything, so quarantining here feels quite natural, but it’s safe, reassuring. I’m so grateful that in all of this, I am able to work remotely, I have a family who I enjoy spending time with, and when this lifts, my life will likely return to what it was. I don’t take for granted that others are not that fortunate. More than that, though, I’m so grateful that Jesus came to me, in my brokenness, my shame, my life without purpose, and He called me by name and asked me to follow him, promising a life abundant. Did he call me Anna or Ana? Good question. That’s between Him and me, but he did call me. Stephen, I’m excited for the day I get to really meet you. I’m also excited for what God has to do with me on earth and how He can use the current environment to reveal Himself, because as silly as this world can be sometimes, it is a small picture of something greater that God has prepared for us. And, friend, while it is undoubtedly broken, it is still so beautiful.
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