Spring has sprung, and my allergies are in full SWING! March has been full of so many fun events like two friends got married, host-sister Anna turned the big ONE years old, we road-tripped to the ACC Basketball tournament where Clemson had its short reign of being a basketball school, and Janie, Trey, and I went to our friend Emily’s SPENGA (spin + strength + yoga) class! See pics below for all the fun moments of this month. We also ventured back to Greensboro this month for a sweet silent retreat. So many March moments and only some madness, but this month, I’m most thankful for the moments spent with my host family!
Last roundtable, Ashley asked us, “What is one ✨Fellows Rhythm✨ that you’re really thankful for or loving right now?”
Well (drum roll please)....I’m really loving the rhythm of family dinners on Tuesday which looks like playing with Anna before she goes to bed, having family dinner with Nick and Meg, and then all watching some movie or show. I can’t ever pinpoint what genre it will be either because we watch such a diverse selection. We went from a 90’s kick with a Harrison Ford movie to watching a new Netflix spy series this week. All of this to say, I love the quality time I get to have with my host family.
Coming into Fellows, I wrote that I was nervous about the host family side of it because it was the part of the program I knew the least about.
Job- ya expected.
Classes- cool, I’m in college and know what that’s like.
Roundtable and Fellows- I’ve been in Christian communities similar.
But Host Family, who or where am I living? I have roommates, but this feels different. I’m excited, but I want to know more of the details.
7 Months later, I’m here to say that my host family is one of my favorite parts of the program!
Living with the pastor and his family has given me the chance to ONE know who is teaching on Sunday. Growing up, I only knew my pastor when I went through confirmation, so for just those 7 weeks, we were tight. But now, I’m watching tv with my pastor and discussing post fellows plans. BIG DIFFERENCE. I know “who” rather than “about who” is speaking each Sunday. I see what is valued in the church and by our church leadership played out through the little interactions in the house. I see the normalcy and simplicity in it all. When I only knew of my pastor as the person on stage each Sunday, it was easy to lift them up on a pedestal and say my problems are too out there to bring to them. I would be very unlikely to go to someone on church staff because I didn’t have any connection with them. Instead, through Fellows and my host fam, I can see that I’m part of a deeper community within the church!
So TWO living with the pastor’s family has enriched my perspective of the church community. Church feels less of an obligation and more of a want to go because I get to see these people I’m doing life with- whether that means I only see them on Sunday or I see them throughout the week. I get to gather, laugh, and usually share lunch with some of them afterwards. This month I’ve reached out to more people outside of Fellows that go to Apostles because I can see this larger community surrounding us that I want to get to know as well. All of this makes me hopeful and PUMPED to continue to go to Apostles during this next season of life!
Lastly, THREE, living with my pastor has encouraged me to grow in my understanding of Jesus as a teacher that walked along people. I didn’t fully process that I was learning this until I was talking to my sweet friend Beth. The more we talked, I could see this clearer image of how Jesus was human, was a teacher IN the crowd, and was a teacher AMONG his friends. The disciples were literally walking alongside and living with Jesus. They saw how his actions matched his words. So, in a very real sense, I’ve been able to grasp how approachable and caring Jesus is as a teacher to his friends and children because I’ve seen it through Nick, Meg, and Anna’s (plus Kevin + Suzy…the dogs) lives together. For instance, Meg has taught me more about cooking and discernment this year. Anna has shown me joy in how we celebrate all she does. She’s a crawling master now and can stick out her tongue so quickly when you ask where it is. We’re still working on saying Mallory. Nick is always learning and asking how someone’s day was. There’s a genuine curiosity there. Kevin and Suzy can be crazy, fun, and crazy fun. All of that has pointed me back to Jesus and how he brings us altogether in times of discernment, celebration, learning, crazy and fun. He is a teacher that has gotten on our level and walked alongside us in the everyday life moments. What sticks out to me the most as I write this is that I haven’t learned this through any special or grand gesture done, but it has been through witnessing my host fam simply sharing their lives with me this year.
So, I’ll say it again…thanks so much for welcoming me into your lives and your home this year Comiskey Fam!!!
