I love you.
I recently moved into a new flat out in a suburb of Wellington called Petone. The house I was living in prior to this went on the market, so we (me & the 4 other flatties) all ventured out to find a new place to call home. I really liked it at 21a Treasure Grove...lovely flatmates, nice house, beautiful ocean view. If we wouldn't have had to move out I'd still be there. I'm a total 'bright sider'...completely optimistic, glass half full person & will find the happy bits of any situation. But I authentically believe that everything happens for a reason. Here's the story...about a week before I was informed of the flat being put up for sale, I was at dinner with some friends when one of them casually said "Rachel, you should move into our flat!" I laughed. Great as it sounded, Petone is actually clear across the entire city from Seatoun, where I work. I brushed it off. Even when found out I had to move, I still didn't consider Petone because of the distance & started searching flat closer to work. As my friends gradually heard about my need for a place to rent, one by one they encouraged me to consider cute little, wonderful little, crazy little Petone. So I did just that. I considered it.
Living in the other flat I hadn't realized that I was missing something. We all had different schedules, and essentially different lives. It was rare to all be there & it often times felt like I was living alone. I thought I liked it, but I didn't. It made me less social, less productive, and for the first time ever, ever, ever did I catch a glimpse of loneliness. Laying everything out on the table...Cost, distance, work, friends. It was my friend Emma who said to me "For your time here what's more important to you, being a convenient distance from work or living where you can actually be in community with your friends??" that helped me put it in perspective and I decided to go for it. In the end, it's not even an inconvenient distance from work. What is convenience anyway? When it's all said and done I really don't care if I took the long way, I'll take whatever way it is that brings fulfillment, fun and LIFE.
From the day I moved into my new place I've felt so at home. It's been a breath of fresh air & I am once again amazed at how God really does know what we need, when we need it & provides it. Even when we're completely oblivious.
Which brings me back to the beginning. When I say I love you, I mean it in a seriously big way. I've said it before, I'll probably say it again & again...but I just cannot get over how many amazing people I have in my life. I can't for the life of me figure out how I could possibly deserve such a blessing. It blows me away to think that I moved clear across the world not knowing even a handful of people, yet I've found a family in the friendships I've made & the home I work in each week. And that I get emails & phone calls from friends, previous co-workers & patients & family back home filled with encouragement and love and plans for when I get back. I am well aware that there are a lot of people in this world that don't or have never experienced love in any capacity. Breaks my heart more than I can say. But it also gives me hope...those of us that have extra can certainly share.
Please do.
