Chapter Two

Ok, so the title’s a little cliché, but at some point all of us experience the same sensations and excitements felt by thousands of others. For many, life is a large, continuous flow. While major events such as marriage, the births of children, or cross-country moves are distinct flags on the timeline of our existence, they still fall on that same timeline. Most of the time, either at least some of your social circles or settings will remain constant. But sometimes, you or a force outside of yourself will cause you to start a whole new beginning. For me, moving to college is my whole new beginning. With one or two exceptions, I’m moving into an entirely new world. Away from family, away from friends, away from home—indefinitely.

Can home even be considered home if I’m never there? I don’t think so. As I close the early years of my life—my prequel—I close myself from everything I’ve learned to be familiar. While some characters will present themselves throughout the pages of my new story, most of their roles will have altered from that of a prominent figure to simply supporting cast-members. As I journey down my path, I leave many others to travel down their own roads. I hope that many of these routes we each take will intertwine eventually; but inevitably, many are headed in different directions, away from my course forever. Unquestionably, I will never forget those that have ventured different directions—all with whom I’ve invested time hold a dear place in my heart.  But as these old friends and acquaintances move from my present to my past, new faces will come to take their places.

Every mile I travel from my birthplace, I increase the probability of my next experience being new. Living out of Utah is going to be new. Being totally independent will be new. Even the slight squeaking of the train car materials rubbing against itself is new, periodically breaking the soft rumbling of the metal wheels against it’s track. Looking out my window, I can see nothing but silhouettes and the occasional streetlight, acting as a beacon to its immediate surroundings. I’ve never seen these places before, and likely never will again. I’m on a distinct path, one that only I can follow. But similar to the shapes veiled by the night, my future directions are hidden from my view.

To everyone on the train with me, nothing shows that I’m on the right track save a small ticket dangling above my head with six letters: SLC-CHI. In my heart, I know God is leading me to discovery. With this in mind, it’s time for me to find a new home. God has been preparing me for the past eighteen years to become my own man, wholly devoted to Him. Moody Bible Institute, my temporary physical destination in this spiritual journey, will be a place for me to grow in both knowledge and wisdom.

The sun is now rising, and I can’t help but see the strong symbol it represents. With each new sunrise, a new day. With each new day, a new beginning. This is my new life—the start of a whole new beginning.

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Note: While this blog is titled Chapter Two, I’m referring to the second chapter not as the second chapter of a book, but a complete break from life as I’ve come to know it— a second phase; while only achievable by completion of phase one, it is completely detached. I hope you all enjoy my blog of life in Chicago (the majority of my posts won’t be this symbolic/cliché/repetitive, I promise, lol).