After college, I worked as a retreat/conference planner for a youth organization over the span of 3.5 years. Before I started working professionally for this non-profit, I volunteered my time, also over a span of several years. This job was great for a new college grad, as I had the chance to travel all over the US and meet incredible people constantly. It really helped me to grow, stretch and understand my personal strengths, talents and gifting. I will be forever grateful for how God used this time of my life to shape the person that I've become. In fact, it was very hard for me to say good-bye in preparing to move to Israel. If I lived in the US now, I'm sure I would still be volunteering and heavily involved. So what happened when I moved to Israel?...I closed that chapter of my life and asked God to show me the next step, knowing that the things I learned would be re-shaped in a new place. I felt like the old piece of clay that was put back on the potter's wheel to be watered down into soft dough, so the Master could create a new design.
Some time ago, I found out that this organization was taking a group of young people on a tour around Israel. I was ecstatic and sad at the same time. I remembered by own experience on this type of trip over 9 years ago. Where has time gone? How can it fly so fast? And why am I approaching 30 - scary! I really wanted to be involved in the planning of this current trip and felt the old urge to organize such an event resurface. Oy! Truth be told, I had my feelings hurt at first, as I was not being used in the way that I wanted. This turned out to be a good thing, as I was reminded again of how I needed to cut the strings and allow others to work in their proper place. Again, Oy! So tough!
God really did bless me, as I then had the chance to plan, organize and semi-lead two days of the trip. This is where the Past met the Present and I think they gave one another an awkward hand-shake.
I told many people that I knew how the youth were feeling since I had been on the same trip years ago, but I didn't know how to look at the youth from the outside...the other side. It was such a mix of emotions for me. I could feel parts of the "Old Blair" rising to the surface and I longed for "that feeling" ... the kind that kicks in around conference time. I even saw old friends that I had worked alongside, but this time, we were in new positions. I couldn't make the puzzle pieces fit, but I could almost see what the puzzle design was suppose to be.
.... Let me stop for a moment and recognize that this previous job was not always easy and there were things I hoped never to do again, like fundraising, but overall, I would rate it as at least an 8 out of 10. I'm also proud to see how much things have grown and changed. I'm happy to have made "many mistakes" so others can walk a stronger/smoother path. Back to the current story....
As the second day came to a close, I am happy to report that I possessed a certain peace about 'hanging out with the past." I was able to flex some old muscles, relive some memories, connect with some great young people, enjoy some free time at the beach, make new connections with my Israeli counterparts and ensure that a certain dream was fulfilled. I can now confidently say that I don't yearn for the past, but look at her with a smile and say, "Thanks for the ride. It was a good one!"
As for what's ahead of me, well, I'm still excited to see how it continues to unfold. It wouldn't half surprise me if moments like this weekend, pop up from time to time like the common thread in my life tapestry.
L'chaim!
Some time ago, I found out that this organization was taking a group of young people on a tour around Israel. I was ecstatic and sad at the same time. I remembered by own experience on this type of trip over 9 years ago. Where has time gone? How can it fly so fast? And why am I approaching 30 - scary! I really wanted to be involved in the planning of this current trip and felt the old urge to organize such an event resurface. Oy! Truth be told, I had my feelings hurt at first, as I was not being used in the way that I wanted. This turned out to be a good thing, as I was reminded again of how I needed to cut the strings and allow others to work in their proper place. Again, Oy! So tough!
God really did bless me, as I then had the chance to plan, organize and semi-lead two days of the trip. This is where the Past met the Present and I think they gave one another an awkward hand-shake.
I told many people that I knew how the youth were feeling since I had been on the same trip years ago, but I didn't know how to look at the youth from the outside...the other side. It was such a mix of emotions for me. I could feel parts of the "Old Blair" rising to the surface and I longed for "that feeling" ... the kind that kicks in around conference time. I even saw old friends that I had worked alongside, but this time, we were in new positions. I couldn't make the puzzle pieces fit, but I could almost see what the puzzle design was suppose to be.
.... Let me stop for a moment and recognize that this previous job was not always easy and there were things I hoped never to do again, like fundraising, but overall, I would rate it as at least an 8 out of 10. I'm also proud to see how much things have grown and changed. I'm happy to have made "many mistakes" so others can walk a stronger/smoother path. Back to the current story....
As the second day came to a close, I am happy to report that I possessed a certain peace about 'hanging out with the past." I was able to flex some old muscles, relive some memories, connect with some great young people, enjoy some free time at the beach, make new connections with my Israeli counterparts and ensure that a certain dream was fulfilled. I can now confidently say that I don't yearn for the past, but look at her with a smile and say, "Thanks for the ride. It was a good one!"
As for what's ahead of me, well, I'm still excited to see how it continues to unfold. It wouldn't half surprise me if moments like this weekend, pop up from time to time like the common thread in my life tapestry.
L'chaim!
