Posts tagged with “home”
Moving
Posted at 11:49 PM
Tomorrow my parents move out of their house of ten years, and move to another part of Oxford to be closer to international students. These last three years I haven’t been here a huge amount, and have mentioned before that Bristol has felt more and more like home. It takes a move to realise that Oxford still feels like home too; both my parents moving house, but also moving away from Bristol. With Brighton on the horizon and Bristol no longer home, Oxford is the only place left, and even that is changing, as we move into the centre from the suburbs.
Changes are exciting; my parents are no longer with Friends International, their employers for my entire life, though they continue to work with international students in the UK, as well as developing international student ministry overseas. I’ve got an entire year to give to my own spiritual growth and that of others, in a new city, with new people. Yet change can also be unsettling. I know this year is going to be hard, because God loves me too much to give me an easy ride. He values my spiritual growth and godliness more than my comfort – and that’s how it should be, because ultimately godliness is where lasting joy is found – and so I’m expecting difficulties that force me to throw myself once again on his grace.
The day after tomorrow, I move to Brighton, and begin life as a Relay worker. I’ve just come back from eleven days in Shropshire with the other Relay workers, with all the CU leaders arriving half way through. Relay 1 (the first of three Relay conferences) was one of the best weeks I’ve had for a long time – revelling in God’s grace with other Relays, enjoying each others company, praising Jesus together.
Moving is hard because we like routine, and moving interrupts it. You don’t know exactly where the cafetiere is in the new kitchen, and the pre-coffee early morning haze is never the best time to start searching; you’re used to having a shower at a certain time, but new housemates are always there first; the shops are different, and don’t have your normal toothpaste. Stupid examples, but there are more serious ones too: your friends aren’t a couple of roads away any more; no-one knows you at church; you no longer have a large living room to which you can invite guests over. You might be in a different region, with a different accent, even a different culture – or indeed, a different country altogether.
Spending just over a week with the Relay workers was perhaps the best thing that could have happened before these moves. Remembering God’s grace gives us a confidence that God accepts us no matter what – so there’s no need to worry about impressing new people. Just be faithful. (We saw this in action on the conference, as within only a couple of days everyone was being completely real with each other, with no pretence.) The sense of community we had – sinners saved only by God’s grace, with complete equality before him – reminded me of God’s new community, one with no geographical ties. Our home is with Jesus. This house has been a temporary home – my house in Brighton too, and my parents’ new home as well. Our homes are gifts of God, for us to use in his service, being welcoming and hospitable. We have an eternal home that’s far greater, though, and spending time living with God’s people, enjoying him together, gives us a glimpse of what it’s like, because God is building a spiritual house, and it’s us (1 Peter 2:5).
So I miss my fellow Relay workers; I’m sad to leave this house; I’m not sure yet what Brighton has in store for me. That’s okay. God has prepared us a city (Hebrews 11:13-16). Praise him!
Life as a graduand
Posted at 2:20 PM
Today is my first day in what seems like a very long time without a home in Bristol. I’m back in Oxford for a month or two before moving to Brighton, and it’s lovely being back, but the city of Bristol seems like home in a way that Oxford isn’t. I’m excited about what my church is doing, most of my friends live there, I love the city itself, and I’ve just done my first proper gig. I’ve recently got to know many like-minded people (my last night in the city was spent making sushi and watching Japanese films, mainly with guys I’ve got to know this year), and I’ve pushed out beyond the student bubble. It feels like home.
I thought it appropriate, however, that I ended up listening to Dvořák’s New World symphony on the way home (by accident as it happens), as it’s the new world – the next step – that I should be focused on. Relay begins in just under two months, and it’s going to be a very different year. Those who are interested in praying for me, please let me know (in the comments, via Twitter or email) so I can add you to the list. (Those interested in financially supporting me, please drop me an email – it’s my first name at my domain name, in case you were wondering.)
Currently, I’m organising a fundraising concert (if you’re able to get to Oxford on Saturday 15th August (not finalised, confirmation and details to follow), your presence would be most welcome!), as well as trying to track down somewhere to live, raising support, organising what I’m doing this summer, and fixing what’s broken about this website! (Let me know if you spot anything; as far as I can tell, it’s all my end not yours.) I might even finish sticking my South Africa photos up on Flickr.
I graduate on the 17th July, which should be… interesting. I’m told there’s a lot of clapping involved. Meanwhile, I’d like to unpack my clothes, but as we’re trying to sell our house, the chest of drawers in my room is filled with hidden-away extraneous clutter.
I’m quite enjoying life as a graduand!