In my major in college there was always disappointment. In the Sustainable Development department at Appalachian State, we studied the world’s problems and the outlook was grim. We would look at the painful parts of our world, like poverty, racism, and other issues, and study the ways people have tried to go about fixing them. We never really arrived at an answer to the world’s problems (shocking, I know), and many of us were frustrated that we weren’t offered a quick fix. After all, we were in this major to change the world! To be honest, I became a little disillusioned with the hope of making a real impact in the world. 

At the beginning of February, I wrote in my journal, “Who am I to deny what the Lord can do? I don’t know how it will all work out, but I also don’t have to know everything.”

This is a slight nod and hopeful prayer to my compulsive desire to control my life. While writing this, I read over my first blog and I am delighted to see that God has been working on me and for me all along.

Sin is something I never want to talk about. 

I find false comfort in painting this perfect, composed, bubbly picture of myself to others, and sin just makes the canvas messy and distorts what I want people to think of me. So, I pick the shiniest and most pigmented hues to try and cover up any and all blemishes, believing I’ve prevented sin from slipping through the cracks. 

But as we all know, that’s just not how it works. Yet I still try to convince myself that I’m not in need of Jesus’ grace. 

The Charlotte Fellows Program is full of opportunities for us to serve in our community. Whether it be through our not-for-profit exposure, work in our churches, or volunteering at schools, there are many ways that we can serve. But it can be easy to forget how often people are serving us in this season of life.

Hello Charlotte Fellows blog and a belated hello to 2023! I still haven’t wrapped my head around the fact that it is already 2023 and we are halfway through the fellows program. If I think about it for too long I’ll get sad, so for now we will just ignore this and focus on the good. 

The past six months have sort of felt like learning to ride a bike. The training wheels are off, but there is still someone there to catch you when you fall. The Charlotte Fellows Program has allowed each of us the time to discern what the Lord is calling us to and welcomed us into a community that is ready to support us.