Sunday Night @ Nordre Ål

Ooookay, so maybe it doesn't quite roll of the tip of your tongue the way Sunday Night @ East (excuse me, Concordia) does, but in many ways, the evening felt familiar to the community and the service I am used to in Moorhead.

Since moving to Lillehammer, I have found a lovely community in Nordre Ål kirken; literally, the North Church, here in Lillehammer. Anne & Oddgeir, the pastors there, are a lovely couple with BEAUTIFUL children who have sort of adopted me and extended hospitality and welcome to this wide eyed wanderer during my time in Norway. Anyway, Oddgeir asked me if I would be willing to share a bit of my faith journey with the congregation last night and I agreed, opting to return from my weekend trip to Oslo a few hours early for the sake of participating in this service of meditation, sharing, music, and prayer. The service was done in the style of Thomas Mass, meaning it was full of different components geared towards personal reflection and prayer.

The whole energy was familiar: the checking of mics, the talking through of the worship order, listening to the musicians prepare for the service. In those moments, in a place far far away, I was home.

I am still marveling at the opportunity; I got to share a bit of my story in this country where I have just happened to be for a short window of time. I get to be a part of this community, these people have become a part of my story. How often will I get a chance to share and grow in these ways? I feel so blessed to have had a chance to be open to these opportunities, and moreso, to be open to the people that have come into my life in the past few months.

This journey has not been an easy one; in all actuality, I think this may be the most difficult thing  have ever done, uprooting my life, moving across the world, leaving those I love and cherish behind for a season. But it's also the most life-giving and altering thing too. I have gained a tremendous amount of independence, confidence, and willingness to try new things, meet new people, and be open to where life will lead.

Learning.
Listening.
Sharing.
Growing.
Pondering.
Wandering.

All I can be is fully and wholely me. And I'm discoverin more and more each day who I am becoming and where this path is leading. Life is all about the journey, and these four months are proving to be an uphill climb, complete with awe-inspiring beauty, victories large and small, and companions who will help me on my way....and the view is breathtaking! The journey is still underway, still worth every step, and has provided me with time to reflect and discern more about who this wide-eyed wanderer really is.