Known, Needed, Have a Future

Known. Needed. Have a future.

These are three things that we talk about in our organization that we hope our staff are experiencing. In transition, these things go AWOL easily. As I look back on the major transitions of my life, I can see how most of the stress and other yuck I felt was because I didn't feel one or more of these things.

So because this isn't my first rodeo, I have been trying to be aware of my need for these things as we've moved to Florida. The problem is that awareness doesn't bring satisfaction. It just gives you an answer to the question, "Why do I feel like curling up in a ball today?" But sometimes that's enough.

Happily, I can feel these things creeping into my life in small ways: Going to a party where I actually know people and can have meaningful conversations and where I am invited to a small group. A nearby neighbor asks if her son can spend the night while she and her husband get away for some time to make a major decision. We visit our kids' school for an interview and I talk to people about when I'll be there helping this semester. Our neighbor invites us over to meet another family who has a daughter Megan's age and since we all work at Cru we have common ground.

Place where I feel known. Needed. I have a future. These are good moments.