Addly

Summer Reflection

I met, talked with, befriended, and lived with a number of other young adult Christians. I'm confident in my desire and need for community (including specifically a community of faith to discuss deeper topics with), am also comfortable insisting that I often need my time alone; in my understanding that the two are not contradictory.
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I've learned that I'm allowed (and need to) care about myself, my health, and my well-being before "serving" the world.  I've felt very lost in the last few years because I haven't felt called as a big successful, career focused leader — I've wanted to be allowed to not have it all together.

The most valuable thing I took away from this summer was a chance to rest.  I needed time and space in a healthy community where I had limited responsibilities so that I could focus on myself without overarching stress.

I think one main learning was just to not judge people by what I imagine them to be, but to try to find who they really are and in what way they are God's handiwork. This summer really illustrated for me how I have a way of spending so much time in my own thoughts and imagination of who people are that I often miss who they really are, and actually having just open vulnerable conversation with them is what gets you there.
​
My faith is a lot more personal now. I’ve learned more about my views and beliefs on some pretty heavy topics, and in solidifying what I believe it has made me feel closer to God because I was solidifying my beliefs based off of his love and the way that Jesus lived. I met, talked with, befriended, and lived with a number of other young adult Christians. I'm confident in my desire and need for community (including specifically a community of faith to discuss deeper topics with), am also comfortable insisting that I often need my time alone; in my understanding that the two are not contradictory.
​
I've learned that I'm allowed (and need to) care about myself, my health, and my well-being before "serving" the world.  I've felt very lost in the last few years because I haven't felt called as a big successful, career focused leader — I've wanted to be allowed to not have it all together.

The most valuable thing I took away from this summer was a chance to rest.  I needed time and space in a healthy community where I had limited responsibilities so that I could focus on myself without overarching stress.

I think one main learning was just to not judge people by what I imagine them to be, but to try to find who they really are and in what way they are God's handiwork. This summer really illustrated for me how I have a way of spending so much time in my own thoughts and imagination of who people are that I often miss who they really are, and actually having just open vulnerable conversation with them is what gets you there.
​
My faith is a lot more personal now. I’ve learned more about my views and beliefs on some pretty heavy topics, and in solidifying what I believe it has made me feel closer to God because I was solidifying my beliefs based off of his love and the way that Jesus lived. ​