The Manger and the Cross

Sorry y'all - Christmas has been busy and I have completely left this little blog in the dust trying to keep up! Here's a few updates of my crazy, little life:

 I finished up my first semester of junior year with a 4.0! It was a complete relief knowing that I no longer have to worry about finals or projects or percentages for a short 2 weeks :) 

Two days ago, I got to celebrate 1 year cancer free with my sweet momma! It is such a blessing to have her as a mentor and role model while also having her as my best friend. She is so strong & brave and I'm so grateful to be able to celebrate this gigantic milestone with her! 

I attended my first Lessons & Carols at Good Shepherd this past Sunday and boy, it just reminded me why I fell in love with this church all over again. The greening of the church was beautiful and it was jam packed with everyone.. It felt like Christmas! I'm so thankful to have found Good Shepherd 3 months ago (it does not feel like it was that long ago!) and be able to celebrate end of Advent in a community like the one at Good Shepherd.

One of my favorite Episcopal priests posted this as his Facebook status the other day; it was a part of his sermon for the 4th Sunday in Advent. 

  "Whomever we hated, Jesus loves. Whomever we feared, Jesus loves. Whomever we ignored, Jesus loves. He loves them enough to change them -- God leaves nobody unchanged -- but where we see castes and pyramids and social ladders, Jesus sees only the wounded in need of heaven's healing."

I too easily separate the manger from the cross, when in reality the coexist together throughout the Bible. My infinitely powerful God came into the world as a fragile, dependent child who desired to unveil a truth to a people He so loved. My infinitely powerful God grew into a man, bore my sin and subjected Himself to death on a cross: a perfect sacrifice for the whole world. 

I love Christmas.

Xoxo, Ash

 

What A Week

This week was crazy in so many different ways. It was our last full week before our fall break week (PTL!) and I was pushing to get through. But, after school was finally over, I got to walk in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in downtown Lexington yesterday. Walking across the finish line hand in hand with my mom was something I had never imagined possible until yesterday. It was a perfect symbol of her almost 1 year anniversary. She embodies everything that I hope I can one day be to my family, and she doesn't get nearly enough credit for all the things she puts up with on a daily basis from us. There were quite a few times during the race that I couldn't keep the tears back; times when I looked around at the hundreds of people who all have their own stories surrounding breast cancer, when I looked at my mom and dad who are now more in love than ever because of it, when I walked across the finish line holding my 3 year old cousin's hand. It was the most perfect reminder of how thankful I am for my mom and how badly I want to live in a world without breast cancer.

I finished up my week in the best possible way: with Good Shepherd. Father Cole spoke perfectly about our mustard seed sized faith and why it is so important that we set out on the path laid before us now, instead of when we believe we have accumulated enough faith to set out on our journey. Our mustard seed sized faith can uproot trees and move mountains; it is enough.

Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.

Matthew 17:20.

All my love, Ash. 

God. Is. So. Good.

I've spent the past year church-hopping, trying to find the best fit for me in this ever-changing part of my life. I've spent all this time hoping I find a church I didn't mind going to or that I could bear; I never expected it to feel like home.

 I met Matt & April Elliot through the Domain, and they have taken over the Youth program at Good Shepherd Episcopal in Lexington. I got pushed into trying out their youth group - and fell in love. I loved the easy going, small atmosphere it provided with kids my own age. So this Sunday, I tried their 9AM Eucharist.

Beyond a shadow of a doubt, it feels like home. The small congregation, style of service and clergy welcomed me in the second I stepped inside. I've spent all this time hoping to find a force-fit when I never needed to have one in the first place; Good Shepherd fits like a glove :)
It felt like  the longest day of my life (as I'm sitting here writing this post about to fall asleep at 7:27PM..) but it was so worth it. I'm excited to see where the rest of this chapter takes me as a newbie-Episcopalian but I know this has been the "what's in store for me" for so long. I've found home. I've found where I'm supposed to be. 

I'm so thankful for everyone in my life who's had a hand in this step in my life. It's a new chapter, but an exciting one. 

All my love for a safe and wonderful week. Ash.