home

rude business men. crying babies. overpriced dramamine. tampons. stale air. melthicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). stiff neck. cramped legs. chapped lips. goosebumps. small talk. body odor. popped ears. these are all characteristics of a day of travel via plane. as of lately, i have become too familiar with airports and airplanes. earlier this month, i was in WI for a funeral. this past weekend i was in WI for a wedding. and next week, i'll go back to WI/MSP for a recruiting trip. that's a lot of air time and a lot of mileage racking up.

upon entering my sister's yellow lemon in minneapolis, i felt overwhelmed. where were the mountains? i hated being in the city (with the exception of all the locations to buy donuts).  i wanted to go back to juneau. but when i landed in milwaukee this past weekend and got in dad's silver sebring convertible, i knew that i was home.

my trip to milwaukee for lauren and zach's wedding was incredible. i had forgotten how much i enjoy milwaukee (not just the 'burbs). the hipster coffee shops. the rollerblading paths. lake michigan. my friends and family. the live music on every corner. cobblestone roads of the third ward. quaint boutiques. my dog and cat. the diversity. the sound of cicadas. the warmth of the sun's rays. and just the accessibility of everything. the taste of wisconsin dairy products. coming back to juneau on monday was actually kind of....hard.

i didn't want to go back.

that totally absolutely 100% surprised me. if i freaking love juneau. why would i not want to come back? easy. my heart is (oddly) in both places.  readers, if you know me at all, you could only imagine just how much i have been analyzing this and the inner turmoil it was causing on my flights.

but once i landed back in juneau, my heart was full of joy.
i was home.

as annoyed by this as i am, it's probably a good thing (or something). it's reassuring to know that no matter where i do go in the world i will be home: the hipster coffee shop, the mountains of south america, a remote village in africa, the arms of my friends and family throughout the world, or the quaint soggy city of juneau. i will be home. i am rooted in Christ, who is rooted in the world. He is home. He is my cornerstone.

today as leaves crunch beneath my fall boots and i snuggle in a chunky scarf with a cup of warm tea, i know that i am so #blessed to have so many lovely places to call home. EEEEEEEEEEE.

xoxo
-A

home is my weird dog stealing my panera bagel. 

home is coffee with people i love. 

home is colectivo. 

                             

home is the serenity that God provides. 

home is my weird but precious family. 

home away from home.

home is by amazing but weird friends in eau claire.

inner pharisee

"let what you heard from the beginning abide in you." 1 john 2:24

a zeal for truth can cause us to become arrogant, harsh, and cold if there is a lack of love and compassion. often my zeal for truth leads me to be judgmental towards others (in an unloving way). i become cold and ignorant. i become someone i don't want to be. i channel my inner pharisee as i judge and condemn others, because i am convinced that i stand above them. 

(face palm)

I DON'T. 

in no way whatsoever am i better than person "x". they too have a heart that deserves to be loved and a voice that deserves to be heard. my judgment prevents me from developing new relationships and growing in current relationships. i've been going through 1 john, and much of it focuses on obedient living and faithful devotion because God is love. everyone is deserving of that love. 

"We love because he first loved us." 1 John 4:19

this summer, i asked my close friends what they see to be my character flaw. all of their answers varied, none of them responded with "Allie, you've been mega judgmental." but when asking God, He revealed to me that i have been struggling with the notion of genuinely loving others. we're all human. we're all flawed. Christ laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters (1 John 3:16) regardless of the sinful nature. if i close my heart towards others, does his love truly abide in me? i need and want to act with grace. 

it's impossible to love God and hate the members of his family. we need to hold one another accountable in a loving, nonjudgmental way. it's definitely easier said than done. i know for me, it will be a continual work in progress. 

this morning i decided to wake up and go hiking at 5:00 AM before a 10:00 AM church service. it was definitely still dark out as we climbed up Mt. Roberts with our headlamps, being ignorant of the potential for bear activity. but as the sun began to rise, the mountains were illuminated with His light. all of His creation was just beginning to stir. on Earth, we are so small. but in Christ's heart, we are everything. He is compassionate, loving, patient, committed, intent on prayer, and non-judgmental. 

we are all #blessed

happy sunday! 

xoxo

-A