The Present Story

"What are you doing after graduate?" 

"What do you want to do with your life?"

"Where do you see yourself ending up in five years?"

"Why are you taking a few years off?"

...When asked these questions, it always sounded like the beginning of the "5 W's and How" from 3rd grade creative writing class -Who, What, Why, Where, When, and How. You know the class. The one where every kid wrote a version of...some monster, that wanted to eat or capture them, because he was mean and hated kids, that happened late at night in their bedroom when the lights were off, and he fails because of how the kid was so courageous. Or something like that with those 6 questions...

Except this time its not for an assignment-its about my life, in the real world, and these were real people asking and wanting to hear answers. Well, here is a synopsis of this chapter of my life!

Who: Yours truly, family, friends, acquaintances, and my bike. (Yes, its a little more than personification. My bike is a dear, nearly constant companion of mine, that is dear to my heart for reasons you will find out in later posts! ;o)

What: After graduating from Moody Bible Institute in 2011, I continued working as a Starbucks Barista in downtown Chicago, while I take a two-three year hiatus between undergrad and graduate school for my counseling license. The morning shifts fly by, as I make latte's, talk a mile-a-minute to customers, many of whom I know by drink, name, and where they work, and laugh and clean with my co-workers! I aim to live fully in the present, learning from the past as I plan (and hold lightly) the future with God's grace and presence holds everything together.

Why: Through prayer and waiting, God has given peace about pursuing counseling, but with a fermata on this time before it. After one year of living outside of school and simply working, God has taught many lessons about life that are and will be invaluable as I eventually enter grad school and the counseling context. I look forward to seeing how and where He will guide my future steps.

Where: You will find me in Chicago, involved with my church family, enjoying the beach by Lake Michigan, running a few miles with a friend, making cappuccino's at Starbucks, biking by the lake shore reminiscing about this past summer's bike trip in France, England and Ireland (more to come later) or dreaming up another bike trip. :o

When: Now. October 3, 2012 ;)

How: Through God. And His goodness that I can't find words to describe. He is so good. He knows and understands everything. A dangerous combination for a human with selfishness. But because He is good, all He does is good -for His glory. I imperfectly rest in both His goodness and trust His love, as I stumble over and over. And by Him, through Him, and for Him, my life story will continue.

I will paddle because He steers.