Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Halfway Across the Country and Loved the Entire Way

If you ever get the opportunity to fly halfway across the country to visit some of your loved ones, do it. Absolutely do it. There are few things more worthwhile. I got to fly to Seattle and visit some of my friends from Malibu (the camp in Canada I worked at). My heart needed a retreat, and it got it. Something about having a group of people that you care about and that cares about you just as much, filled with friendships founded in Jesus, diminishes the hurt of the world. I can't tell you how much joy I experienced. At one point, I was literally shaking with excitement. That's what happens when you overload this ol' heart o' mine. But it was the best feeling. I got to see some of my closest friends for the first time in five months after having lived with them for a month. There is nothing like it.

On my way back, I was able to visit with a dear friend in Denver airport. Jessica lives in Boulder, so she came to hang out with me during my layover. It was nice to relax and have some heart-talk together. This is the girl that would, while at Malibu, come up and tell me "Sean, I love how you love me"... to which I would reply "...okay...". However, I eventually understood and began to tell her that I loved it, too. She gave me some perspective on a couple things, some words of comfort and wisdom, and she gave me a good book to read. I'm still processing some of the things she told me. "There are people that are meant to father us, and there are our biological fathers, and sometimes that doesn't always match up". Amen. 

I got back to KC on Jan. 2. On the 3rd, 3 of my friends drove to Kansas City for a guys weekend in celebration of my birthday. Mom gave us her house to live in for the weekend, we toured Boulevard Brewing Company, shot some clay pigeons, ate tasty food, drank some drinks, and just had a great time. I've never had a group of guys with whom I could hang out, much less take a weekend trip. It meant a whole lot to me. Matt wasn't able to be there, so he made the effort to drive up and spend some time with me on Sunday, which was my actual birthday. That also meant a great deal to me. I've never had a friend do anything remotely close to driving three house just to spend some time with me on my birthday. I look back at my life, and look at the quality of various friendships and I am truly moved by the quality of my current friendships. I have never had a birthday celebration that meant so much to me.

The thing that has meant the most to me is that I felt loved the entire time these last two weeks. Love has followed me all around the country. Love came from all around the world. My friends care about me, and I am able to be confident in that. That is new for me, but I am so glad that I get to experience it. I thank God for the growth that I have experienced over these last 22 years of life, and specifically this last year. To think I knew Matt a year ago but it was only through being his accompanist, William and I hardly knew each other, and the people I visited in Seattle and Denver I hadn't even met. But here they are playing integral parts in my life. My heart is so full. Sometimes I grow weary of loving people, but I truly never tire of being loved. 

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