Welcome Home

Every day here, at the Abbey, begins with Morning Prayer. This morning we discussed the essence of the Gospel. It was said that the essential message of the Gospel is ‘Welcome Home’ and home is where someone will always let you in. This is such an important message to me, especially feeling so far from home. I’m not far from home though; I was let in here in Bath, England. It is so significant to remember to carry this message around with us as we meet others. You never know when someone might be a little bit lost and looking for their way home. Love your neighbor as yourself and show them that they are at home, that we are all at home together.

A prayer from the Service of Holy Communion at Bath Abbey:

Father of All,

we give you thanks and praise,

that when we were still far off

you met us in your Son and brought us home.

Dying and living, He declared your love, gave us grace, and opened the gate of glory

May we who share Christ's body live his risen life;

we who drink His cup bring life to others;

we whom the Spirit lights give light to the world.

Keep us firm in the hope you have set before us,

so we and all your children shall be free,

and the whole earth live to praise Your name;

through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

A View from the Top

I have been in Bath, England for almost two weeks now and I thought that it was time for an update. Everything is going really well. I am meeting lots of new people and seeing lots of new things. One of my fellow UK YAGMS asked me the other night what has shocked me most about the way things are here. What a good question. I haven't really been shocked by anything, but I have been surprised at how many differences there are. I haven't had much time to focus on those differences because I have been kept very busy at the Abbey.

I have many reponsiblities. One of my jobs is to be a Tower Tour guide. The tower tour takes visitors of the Abbey on a climb up 212 narrow, dark, old, steep, spiral steps. These steps lead to the top of the Abbey tower where there are magnificent views of the city below and the surrounding countryside. The picture in the top left is one I took while standing on the top of the tower. I have never been too fond of heights in general, but specifically stairs. I get nervous going down even a small flight of stairs and now I am faced with the task of climbing up, and even worse, back down, 212 steps six times in a day.

Throughout the whole YAGM process I can't help, but wonder what it is that I've been called and sent to do. It is a natural thing to constantly look to the future what comes next? Well, as I climb those stairs I think, 'I know what comes next: the next stair, and then the one after that, and then the one after that...'It is a great thing to focus on the present, to focus on one foot in front of the other. At the end of all of those small steps I have climbed to the top and I can see so much. It is easy to miss what is going on right here right now, but without the right here and right now, we can't reach beyond. I still don't know exactly what the big picture of my life will look like, but I do know that, right here, right now, I am taking a step in the right direction.

3 Airplanes + 13 hours - 1 suit case = Safely in Bath

I made it! I am safely and happily in Bath, England. Of course, I have terrible jet lag and I lost a suitcase on the way (it has since been found and should arrive shortly), but all is well. Bath is beautiful and I already feel like I am a part of a family.

I was greeted, with a hug, by my supervisor’s wife Sarah and their oldest son Caolen. He is 10 going on 16 and just delightful. When we arrived at their home we were joined by the twins, Jonty and Dewi. They will be 9 on Sunday and I have already been invited to the birthday party. The three boys are enthusiastically showing me the ropes in the UK with lengthy and very fast paced discussions on Black Adder, the Cricket Ashes, and which fudge, ice cream, and sweet shops are the best. They also corrected me when I thought my pants were wet from the rain. Evidently, it was actually my ‘trousers’ that were wet because ‘pants’ are something incredibly different and vastly more entertaining to little boys.

My flat is right next to the abbey, in the heart of Bath, giving me incredible views from every window. My bed is soft and comfortable which was incredibly welcome after a long day of travelling.

Saying ‘goodbye’ was tough, but that part is over now. It is all ‘hello’ from here on out!

I'm not packed yet...

I have been home from orientation for about five days now, and it is time for me to head back to the airport. I fly to England tomorrow! I am so excited and ready to begin this amazing journey. Orientation was amazing. If that is any indication of what is to come then I can't wait. It has taken a lot of strength to say goodbye to all of my family and friends, but I believe so much in what I am a part of that I know I'll be fine. I am praying for my fellow YAGM's all around the world.

"O God of beginnings, as your spirit moved over the face of the deep on the first day of creation, move with me now in my time of beginnings, when the air is rain-washed, the bloom is on the bush, and the world seems fresh and full of possibilities, and I feel ready and full. I tremble on the edge of a maybe, a first time, a new thing, a tentative start, and the wonder of it lays its finger on my lips. In silence, Lord, I share now my eagerness and my uneasiness about this something different I would be or do; and I listen for your leading to help me separate the light from the darkness in the change I seek to shape and which is shaping me." - Ted Loder