Eudaimonia

I have this really awful tendency to use this space to complain. I like to think that the majority of the time it is justified and healthy complaining, but all the same. I'm a mostly positive person, but I'm not sure these writings reflect that well. Upon realizing that, it seemed important to tell the story of this week.

September has begun, and my favorite people have returned to our favorite place. Move-in weekend came and my newsfeeds were overrun with reunion pictures and welcome back posts. I won't sugar coat it - it sucked. I admit, I cried. A few times. I got it in my head though, on Monday, that I wasn't going to dwell in my sadness. I had so much good going on here in Columbus! My 'ephemera' post was part of that, psyching myself up to try and wrench myself out of the dumps. I was ready to soldier on, prepared to face my own battle against the slump.

Then suddenly, I didn't have to try so hard. This week was downright phenomenal. I got to organize my boss' library, which sounds mind numbing but was probably the most fun I'd had in months! Categorizing and color coding and alphabetizing, weighing whether or not the theology of worship books go in the reference stack or the worship one, reading book jackets, recognizing authors and texts from classes - it all had me giggling while I was alone in the office. I made my tea and settled into the task for hours and it felt amazing. This week it felt like every meeting was full of learning material, and I wrote notes like crazy to incorporate it all in my final paper. I got texts from my friends at HU, and somehow they all made me feel like despite the distance, I'm still part of that place and that community, and that there will still be room for me when I return. I had great talks with my coworkers and my host family. I felt busy - a breath of fresh air after the week before when I was trying to stretch out my tasks to fill the day. Our community group met at our house instead of the normal location, and it meant I could take part but still get to bed at a good hour. I stayed late on Wednesday night to attend one of the adult education classes, and I was amazed by the whole experience. I didn't grow up in a church that did a lot of classes for adults, so it was awesome to see how that could be done. Plus, I just missed listening to lectures, and any chance to be in a classroom again is not something I'll pass up. The thought crossed my mind once that I'm running low on funds, but even that couldn't derail the joy God was funneling into my life this week.

All of that, plus the smaller joys of good food and hugs from little ones, leads me to only one conclusion: God knew I needed a hug this week.

He's taught me a lot of lessons this summer. He will teach me so many more before December comes. I was prepared to face this new challenge. But instead of letting the waves bowl me over, he scooped me up and held me safe. I got to rest. I know more troubles will come, but I have found my joy and rest in him, I know he will walk me through.



eudaimonia
n. "human flourishing"; a contented state of being happy and healthy and prosperous.