Sunday, March 5, 2017

Happy 30th Birthday, Stephen!

Hey there, brosky. I started writing this from the porch of a Virginia vineyard, warmed by the spring sun, chilled by the winter wind, drinking a glass of Cabernet, which I think you would enjoy very much. But I have so much to say to you, I'm finishing it at my kitchen table back in Ann Arbor. The time in Charlottesville was refreshing, revisiting those strong relationships built over the years, escaping the grad school bubble for a bit. Don't get me wrong - grad school's still a blast, and I love the people, but you know how I feel about bubbles. They can be suffocating, and it's easy to get lost in them.

The big 3-0. That's huge. Let me know how it feels - I'm approaching it quickly, you know.

It's been a big year for the Navs. We've grown by four. Phil got married, and you'd love his wife. They make each other laugh, and they really seek what God wants. Sometimes I think he's more mature than I - but then he cracks a that's what she said joke - and then I laugh hysterically - and then I'm back to thinking he's more mature than I. Both Gail and Lydia had kiddos, adding more love, laughter, cuteness and chaos to family gatherings. Jericho is one and weighing in at roughly 40 pounds, and Ida Theyes is nearly as sweet as her sister, Mabel Jo, though that's a high bar to meet. And you've met Julie and Jeromy's Stephen already. I'm sure you're showing him the ropes up there. Aren't nieces and nephews the greatest? The devil's cruel, and it doesn't seem fair that they had to go through the loss, but they're stronger, which is a testament to their faith. And the fact that they're also more mature than I.

You know how mom had a verse for every child she had? Well, I occasionally have verses for different life stages - you remember my verse while studying for the GMAT? I was packing this summer and stumbled upon this list of verses tucked away. One in particular caught my attention: "Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass." The thing is - my heart has so very many desires, Stephen. I want a meaningful career; I want to be near family; I want to have a family, so I wasn't sure which one He meant.

The prompt for Ross admissions was: What is your desired career path and why? I said I wanted to be in sports marketing with the liberty to be creative, think outside the box, and pursue an industry I was passionate about. Sports had a huge impact on my life, and I wanted to be part of giving that to others. Then I got to school, and those opportunities were few and far between. When people asked what I wanted to do, I caveated it: "I realize that's a limited scope."

Most jobs throughout the recruiting process didn't interest me, but there were a few that caught my eye. One was an internship with a creative sports marketing agency. It was a combination of all the things I loved - creativity, marketing, strategy, tech. SPORTS!

I wish I could say the process wasn't stressful, and that I didn't question or disappoint myself throughout. I fell short a time or two, and there were moments I knew I could have done better. But I also committed my way to the Lord, and I trusted in Him.

Last week, I got the internship. My Goldman. My Bain. My Proctor & Gamble.* And I'm so grateful. A couple years ago I wrote about the intricate story that God weaves. You know me - I love a good story, and I often create them in my head. I've created so many stories that have fallen flat and not gone the way I planned. The cool thing about God is, His story is still much neater than any I create, and once again, I've seen his intricacies throughout this process. The fact that I participated in case competitions earlier this year, so when the final round interview was a case and presentation, I had learned from others how to approach it effectively. The experienced friends who helped me perfect it. The man my parents befriended in DC who worked closely with the company.

Making decisions by yourself is both exciting and daunting. On the one hand, you can do whatever you want, and on the other hand, you can do whatever you want. I turned down another really neat opportunity for this, that in some ways made more sense. It was hard, but I knew I would regret not pursuing this one opportunity I had sought from the start.

Once again, God's answer wasn't a man. It wasn't moving back to Cleveland. It's a new adventure. I'm not going to romanticize this - surprising, I know. I am fully prepared for the possibility that it's not a good fit or that I won't enjoy living in New York. But I have the opportunity, and that was my heart's desire.

Mom gave me this devotional five years ago, and I still read it as often as possible, as I love the accompanying quotes. One of the quotes for your birthday is, "They have had their victories, and when the stress is hardest, it is wise to look back on these for encouragement." God has given me so many victories throughout my short career, whether it's promotion, a new job, a free education; this is another victory. He's given me victories in life, too, and my brief time in Charlottesville, watching basketball at my usual sports bar, dining with my closest friends, helping my favorite neighbor move, reminded me of that. I'm excited for what He has next. And, big brosky, I'm also excited to play horse with you someday. I've been working on my jump shot.

* Though it pays incredibly less than all three.