Hello everyone! Wow, it has been a while since I have written a post. While I would love to devote hours and hours to writing, sometimes life just has different plans. In this case, it took a world-wide pandemic to bring me back to a passion that had slipped away in the chaos of “regular” life.

This past fall I wrapped up my college degree, a Bachelors in Leadership & Ministry with a concentration in Business. While I was more than ready to be done juggling full-time school and work, I truly miss the discussions and platform of learning.

Since graduation, I have found my schedule to allow for more flexibility and it has been so fun to experiment with various hobbies and to “attempt” to learn how to just slow down and relax. Something which I confess I am not very good at.

While I have not been writing, I have been able to create in so many new ways recently. This past month I moved and had the joy of creating my own space. In my new kitchen I have taken on the challenge of becoming bolder and stepping outside of my ten-recipe bubble (it’s a real struggle). There have been big messes, burnt cookies, and many laughs while attempting to have cooking parties over FaceTime. Ladies, it is a wild season we find ourselves in. But for some of us, there has been no better time to get some flour in our hair and try something new.

With the warmer temperatures, my little seedlings have made their way out to the garden. The hard work of springtime preparations will soon pay off. I once heard it said that “planting a seed is to believe in tomorrow.” There are things in this world that are just good for the soul. For me, whether my plants yield veggies this year or get swept away in a flood (it has happened) there was so much good that still comes from the process.

What things in our lives reflect our hope for the future? Do our daily habits reflect a heart of hope or simply of momentary pleasure? The work of planting a garden, the messy kitchen experiments, and the toil of completing a college degree. As I reflect on those three things, I can see what pushed me through. It was not the joy it gave me in the moment, while there were many smiles along the way. Each was an investment in my future, equipping me to serve and love others through what I learned.

How does this same mindset apply to our faith? As Christians, how should our future hope be reflected in our current decisions? Passages such as Colossians 3 outlines what this looks like in our daily lives.

“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” – Colossians 3:1-2

This season may be temporary, but how we decide to spend it is lasting.