Patterns

I've known something about myself for a while now, and it's really showing itself lately.  I thrive with routine.  I've always admired my friends who exhibit exciting bouts of spontaneity.  Who, in college, would decide at 10:30pm to drive to Vegas and do it.  Who would see a rainstorm coming and decided to hike Garcia trail anyway.  Who I'd say goodnight to around midnight, and then the next day would have some story about shenanigans gone down in the wee hours of the morning.

But that's not me.  Sure, I think it's healthy to have friends like that.  I can't be as predictable as a second hand on a clock.  How boring is that?  Those friends help to stutter that mechanical rhythm.  They help to make it a little more interesting; with them, I live life on a different beat.

I'm working on my flexibility here.  I knew coming into Austria that there wouldn't be a super defined schedule until school started.  For all of July, I had my German classes.  I had those 4 weeks of knowing what to expect, but now that's finished.  This week, the girls don't have their summer kindergarten, so I'm spending full days with them.  Next week, I'm leaving for a week and a half in Germany with some old friends I met on a short high school exchange.

Through all of the craziness of not knowing exactly what will happen tomorrow, let alone next week, I'm finding my own ways to bring peace of mind.  I have those staples in my days and weeks that are solid.

Even if I have to get up at 6:15 to do it (gross), I go on my run.  Let me tell you, I love this part of my day!  I love it even more when it's not at the crack of dawn, but beggars can't be choosers.  Hollabrunn is beautiful.  Really.

I love the brightly colored houses I first pass on my route (my house is pink, a few doors down is yellow, across from that, bright violet...).  I turn onto another quiet road with lots of trees, houses with interesting gardens.  I get to the edge of Hollabrunn and go straight into a quaint little village called Magersdorf.  I run straight through it to the far side of the village.  My turnaround point is an adorable old yellow church building with the big numbers 1727 hanging above the door.  Yes.  1727.  That church is older than my country.

My other staple is the church I mentioned in my last post.  Can I say enough times how grateful I am to have found it?  Definitely not, but I'll say it again.  I love this community.  I've already felt like I belong with the young adults group.  We poke fun at each other and spend so much time laughing.  The pastor of the church has so much knowledge to offer and gives thought-provoking sermons.  The worship team changes every week, so our music worship experience is a little different every time.

Come September 4th, I'll have that daily routine I'm currently craving.  For now, I'll take the few nuggets of predictability I have and embrace a little spontaneity.

Missing you!

Grace and peace,
Hilary