I find in many ways this comes naturally to me, even if it does take a moment to adjust. Just last week I was at school in Johnson City, Tennessee, and I did NOT want to leave for Spring Break. I knew I was bound to see some great people in the next week, but I seriously love my life at Milligan to the depths of who I am, so why leave it? Then I moseyed my way on up to Kentucky where the love of so many people was poured on me through birthday cakes, flowers, presents, hugs, and cards. I seriously love my life in Kentucky to the depths of who I am, so why am I going to leave it on Tuesday? And right now I'm laying in a bed in Nashua, New Hampshire. I surprised one of my favorite friends, Lauren, with a visit up to her new hometown because 1) I selfishly miss her, 2) I've never been to New England, and 3) she needed to be cheered up from the stuck-inside-working-all-day-still-trying-to-make-friends-plus-it's-negative-1000-degrees-winter-blues. And even though she and Jacob just went to bed at 10:30, every part of me is present here, and I don't want to leave.
Tennessee, Kentucky, New Hampshire, Baltimore, Europe - whether I'm exploring somewhere new or living life day to day, I try to keep that saying in mind - "Wherever you are, be there."
However, I've found that when you're honestly "there", it's impossible to leave without giving a piece of your heart away. Part of my heart is on Milligan's campus. Part of it is at the Merante and Pierce homes. Part of it is somewhere in the middle of the Alps. Part of it is at the Piazzale Michelangelo. Part of it is at Mountain Christian Church. Part of it is with Elsa McDade.
But honestly, most of my heart isn't anywhere I've visited or with any of my friends or in any of my homes. It sounds BEYOND cheesy, I know, but for the last few years most of my heart has been in a place I've never been. My life on Earth is fo'real rockin', but I still long for more. Sometimes my heart years for places so much it seems to physically ache, and my aching to be in Heaven and with my Jesus is no exception. Unfortunately for the time being, it's little different. Theoretically, if I want to be in Kentucky or Tennessee or Switzerland, I can hop on a plane and be there soon. And technically, I want to stay in New Hampshire by pulling an "Amy" (Parenthood, anyone?) and leaving school, I can (don't worry, Albrechts… it's not happening). But when it comes to physically being with my Jesus, I can't just get up and go, no matter how hard I want to or try.
So, how do I live out "Wherever you are, be there" when pieces of my heart are scattered around the globe and the rest of it is in the heavenly places? I don't think it's a question I have the answer to yet. Or maybe it's not the question I should be asking. But I'm determined for now to give glimpses and pieces of my heart to new places and more people as I keep my eyes focused on Who holds it in its entirety, cuz I've found that life's just more beautiful that way.
