First up, Thanksgiving!
This past week I experienced my first American Thanksgiving! We had a great few days off work, ate lots of food and Kelsey visited from San Antonio.
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| Thanksgiving with my pastor's family |
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| Lego turkey time! |
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| Christmas lights at Opryland |
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| Mary & Joseph at Opryland |
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| Some YAV love |
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| And Christmas YAV love! |
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| Welcome to Smashville! |
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| Rory the duck on his travels! |
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| Nashville by night |
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| McNamara's Irish Pub |
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| The coolest table in the house |
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| I was too excited to find the NI fire & rescue plaque! |
As you can see I had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I have now been in the US for over three months and I have a lot to be thankful for. People have made me very welcome here and even though Northern Ireland will always be home, Nashville does also feel like home. When I talk about my trip back to Larne in April I often say, "I am flying home on 11th April and back home again on 2nd May".
And now for the worrying...
What if I make a mistake in my placement?
What if I miss a mistake in a student's personal statement?
What if I don't know enough about the US college system to help these students?
Am I making myself to vulnerable?
What if I don't get accepted into seminary or divinity school?
Will I have to go back to a church where I cannot openly serve?
These are the kind of questions that have gone through my mind over the past three months. Now, I am not paralysed by worry and I do not think these thoughts on a daily basis, well not consciously anyway, however they are there. Logically, worrying does not make any sense. By spending time and energy worrying, what will I change? Nothing. I am sure I am not alone though. We all do it, we all worry about something, it seems to be part of human nature.
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life..."
Matthew 6 v 25
This verse is one of the most relevant Bible verses for me, and Jesus does not stop there. He goes on to explain to us why we should not worry. It is not merely a command. We do not have to worry, because he has it covered. Every time I read Matthew 6 v 22-31, I feel that God is saying "trust me".
Another passage I am drawn to is the story of the burning bush (maybe it is from my PCI upbringing). The words God spoke to Moses resonate deeply with me;
"I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob."
Exodus 3 v 6
Not only is He the God who went onto rescue his people from Egypt; He is the same God who has brought me to Nashville, the God who has always drawn close to me (even when I doubt), the God who has not let go of me (even when I tried to let go of Him), the God who I have loved since my childhood and who I fall more in love with as I grow.
So, why should I worry? Thankfulness to God should trump my worries. Sometimes it does, and even when it doesn't He is still close to me.
