After moving to a different city, even after a week, life has seemed a little different. On the bright side, my grandpa has lived here my whole life and longer, so it wasn’t an entirely new city, but definitely different to live in, plus the fact that we don’t know very many people right now. I don’t have a job, I haven’t found a new church yet, and I’m an online student. In other words, I don’t have any commitments yet to keep me busy outside of the house. The other day I was in bed until 10am for the first time in a long time and didn’t feel bad about it. Since it’s only been about a week since we’ve moved, I’m not too shaken up about it. But if week two comes around, and all the same dynamics are going on, I might feel differently. A couple nights ago I somewhat spontaneously decided to go to an art show hosted by The Giving Keys in Downtown Los Angeles. I say “somewhat spontaneously” because I knew about the event a couple days prior, but didn’t actually decide to go until that afternoon. On a side note, I wasn’t quite sure if my mom was going to be alright with me spending the evening in Downtown LA by myself on a Friday evening. (Please erase all those horrible scenarios that may have just come to mind, okay?) So I go to the event. I get a little more dressed up than I usually do (let me just say, that I almost never get “dressed up” so this was pretty fun), drove an hour through LA traffic, had a really good talk on the phone with a really good friend to keep me company, and made my way there. I had never visited the Art District before, and just got pretty excited driving into the area. Since I got there a little early, I found an eclectic-looking coffee house just a block or so from where the art show was. I was one of the first people in the art show and starting looking around before it got too busy. The show itself was pretty amazing. The Giving Keys showcased art from a couple artists local to the LA area, but part of the focus of the night was the art from people who have worked for and with The Giving Keys. (Disclaimer: I am not getting paid to say this and rave about this amazing company.) Not only does this company sell jewelry that encourage, inspires, and emboldens people, but they also employ homeless people with the hope they can have a better future than they might have imagined. The ones who had contributed to the art show came up with quotes that embodied their struggles and where they are today and portrayed them as a work of art. But they didn’t stop there. We got to hear first hand inspiring stories and wisdom from them. Soon after arriving at the event, I had met a young woman around my age who is staying in the area for the summer. After talking for a while, we found common ground: we are both Christian. Oh and we also got a little starstruck a couple times... All this to say, I am really thankful for that night. I learned that if I step even the slightest out of my comfort zone, amazing things can happen. A couple years ago, actually probably 9-12 months ago, I wouldn’t have considered doing any of what I did that night. I look back over the years and think of myself as a pretty reserved & sometimes withdrawn person. I was only my true self, if that, when around the people that I have known the longest or meant the most to me. Especially in high school, I was not comfortable in my own skin, and was certainly not confident in the woman God had made me to be. Oh how times have changed. If the only option for me to go to the event was alone, I would have flaked out. I definitely wouldn’t have gone out of my way to talk with someone I had never met, and later exchange phone numbers. I am so so thankful for the newfound confidence that only God could have instilled in me. Honestly, it makes life a lot more fun that way. As I was driving home, I smiled, laughed a little, and thought to myself, I really surprise myself sometimes.
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This is a blog about the ups & downs of early
adulthood, God's goodness & faithfulness, & life in other countries. “Look at the nations and watch— and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told."
Habakkuk 1:5 NIV Archives
June 2017
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