Yes yes, I realize I am a bit late with my November post, but by my count I am still not the latest of my class of fellows (unless they all post while I’m typing), so I am going to count that as a win in my book.
November has been the most jam-packed month we’ve had so far I’d say, and ironically it has felt like the first time I could really breathe since moving south. Much like some of my “fellow fellows” have said, it was an incredible month. November was marked by adventure, intentionality, increased confidence, and important questions. Between carpooling to DC where we may have laughed a bit too much at inappropriate times during the conference, to praying with and serving others in Nicaragua, to getting left in the Miami airport on our way home (shoutout Bailey, Elijah and Chris who got left with me), there have been innumerable spaces where I have tangibly felt my connections to the 13 other incredible humans in this program deepen and grow (plus Ashley, Sam, Chris, and Eric of course).
In addition to the growth I have felt with the other Fellows, November was also a month marked by learning with the Lord. Though, as per usual, the lesson I have been learning is nothing groundbreaking or new, it felt like the first time I’d really considered it. I feel as though God has been challenging me to dream more with Him. For context, I tend to be someone who thinks about the future a fair amount, and though I don’t consider myself a rigid planner, I typically have some imagination for what’s next for me. However, where I have felt the challenge has been in dreaming about how beautiful things could be if they go the opposite direction of where I think they will. For example, it’s easy for me to dream about my life post-fellows, back in Michigan, living with my best friend and working while doing ministry. What’s harder is dreaming about alternatives that would be beautiful; where I instead stay in North Carolina, or do something entirely different with next year. It’s easy for me to dream about a future by myself or only with close friends, radically pursuing God’s calling on my life while free from obligations to many others. It’s more difficult to dream of a beautiful future that includes me being married or having to compromise for a family. Yet, God is teaching me the importance of dreaming about the incredible ways He could use EITHER or BOTH scenarios.
I think this practice of dreaming more than one beautiful possibility with God is an incredible way to avoid putting Him in a box. Also, I can already see how dreaming about the awesome ways God could use things I maybe don’t want right now is setting me up to avoid future discontentment. It’s harder to be disappointed if you have learned to dream about multiple outcomes, and it’s easier to understand people with different dreams after you try dreaming them yourself.
Takeaway: DREAM MORE WITH GOD! (and not just about the things you want)
-Emma <3