Transitions and Transformations
One year ago, I thought I knew where I’d be right now. I grew up around The Fellows Program and had a practical understanding of the structure and content of the program. My church was a host church (shout-out Raleigh Fellows!), and I watched countless classes commence, lead our small groups, and graduate. I remember in 7th grade watching a new class being introduced, thinking I’d “never” do the Fellows program. Even after committing to Chattanooga Fellows during my senior year of college, I thought my outside familiarity with the program meant I knew exactly what my experience would be. And yet, a year ago I didn’t know the reality of how hard it would be to leave everything familiar and move to a place where I knew no one. I couldn’t have explained how learning to live with intentionality and experiencing generous hospitality have changed the lenses through which I see the world. I couldn’t have imagined how deeply I would come to value the people I’ve had the privilege of knowing these past seven months.
We’ve read a lot of books in Fellows, but Strong and Weak by Andy Crouch is the first book I’ve read that’s made me feel like I found a shortcut. Crouch posits that what he calls “flourishing” occurs when a person obtains both increasing authority and increasing vulnerability. If you can find a way to hold both—opening yourself to meaningful risk while having the capacity for meaningful action—you can begin to live as you were created to. I tend to agree with Crouch, and I can think of multiple instances from the past seven months when I’ve found this idea to be true. The vulnerability of moving to a new city and trusting strangers with your story, along with the opportunity to take action in the community in which we’ve been placed, have fostered an atmosphere that promotes flourishing.
I don’t know where I’ll be a year from now, but I do know who I am becoming. Through the incredible efforts of everyone involved with this program, I feel equipped to confidently live out my faith in the everyday, even if I don’t yet know what the every day will look like. I also know that when I look back on it, Chattanooga Fellows will be a pivotal part of my story—a season of growth, wonder, and ever-increasing awe of our God.