Shaping Fall Routines

I love fall.  As school starts and routines settle in it is such a great opportunity to reflect and dream. As I reflect on what has shaped my life during in recent years I realize there are three communities that I participate in that I expect to have transformative impact on my life this fall.

I enjoy watching God intertwine the facets of my life and it is with great anticipation that I look forward to what God will do this fall as I am already seeing things mesh and getting new insights.

MOPS International has given me a community of women to journey through mothering with on a local and even international scale.  This past spring they unveiled this year's theme as A Fierce Flourishing and have us focusing on 3 elements in order to flourish:  embracing rest, celebrating lavishly and noticing goodness.

Solana Beach Presbyterian Church is my local worshipping community and is embarking on a series for the fall called For the Sake of the World: Letters to the Exiles.  I'm still waiting for it to be unveiled to know exactly what direction we will be taking on that but it has me thinking the last few weeks a lot about exiles -- Babylon, Egypt, Joseph sold into slavery, Moses leading the Israelites for 40 years in the desert, John on the Island of Patmos.  Let's face it, the Bible isn't exactly short on examples of exile.

And then imagine my surprise when 2 weeks ago IF:Equip launched their new study on Nehemiah.  We were enjoying our last week of summer at the time.  My online Bible Study had been kicked to the curb but seemed like a good place to start adjusting back to school routines.

As the weeks have passed I have been surprised to see God interweaving these through communities of learning that have been impacting my life.  I have been left with this question to mull on:

What does it mean to flourish in exile?

If God designed us for the good life and yet drags his followers into all sorts of trials and tribulation I have to believe flourishing is something to be found in exile.  How often do I choose to grumble like the Israelites did as they made bricks, ate manna, and missed the wonder of resting in God's provision?  How often do I see the limitations of exile rather than experiencing God's presence in ways I never imagined as John on the Island of Patmos?  How often do I rush through my day not stopping to celebrate the beauty and goodness that surround us?

This fall as we embark on a new school year I want to embrace the new creation God has made me.  I want to stop seeing my identity through my sin and shame.  I want to flourish.