In the morning, Chelsea May and I are leaving Texas, heading north to new locations (undisclosed for a week!) and new, unforeseen adventures. I came to Texas in the wake of Hurricane Harvey to attend seminary, and I’m leaving in the wake of Hurricane Hannah, seminary completed and ready to move into ministry, married to my best friend and heading to new locations and new experiences. It’s more than I ever dreamed of and more than I ever imagined.
When I landed in Austin I wanted to finish seminary and do ministry in a small town; I had no hopes or dreams of dating – let alone marrying – someone. But God is funny, and by the end of our first year of classes I knew Chelsea May was going to be a significant person in my life. While we got along in class, we somehow gravitated toward one another outside of the classroom and we just…kinda stuck together. Going for late night pizzas…seeking ice cream on summer nights…going to church together…grocery store runs…movie nights and late night discussions. Honestly, it’s one of those gross, fairytale, romantic montages from a rom-com that shows up on the Hallmark channel late at night.
And I’m okay with that. I’m okay with the mushiness and the romance and the overly-cute nonsense that we do for one another and with one another. It’s great – it’s what I always wanted and what I need in a relationship. But I’m also okay with hanging out in our sweats and doin’ nothin’ on a Friday night as the cats run around the room like banshees. And I’m okay with the arguments and the ‘serious discussions’ and being grumpy because it’s a Thursday. I’m okay with all of this and all the unknowns, all the mysteries, and all the for-sures because I love her, and she, me.
Charles Schulz says it best for me as she and I rest up before our trip tomorrow: “In life, it’s not where you go, it’s who you travel with.” While I’m confident that the future is unknown and scary and a little worrisome, I’m also confident that when I travel with Chelsea May, I know I’ll be fine. She’s capable. She’s strong. She’s confident. She’s loving. She’s ready. She’s trusting. She can carry my baggage when it’s too much. She can help navigate my dangerous waters. She can lead me when I can’t do it. She can take care of me when I need it most. She can do all the things I can when I simply cannot do them – and she will – because she loves me. And she knows that I’ll do the exact same for her at any moment because I love her.
I’m ready to travel to unknown places and unknown spaces because Chelsea May will be with me every step of the way. I’m ready to travel into these next moments of ministry and life because God is with us both. I’m ready to go because we’ve been sent. I’m ready!
much love. sheth.