21 months ago we walked ran into our new home. Walls went up, but they produced the opposite of division. Paint engulfed the rooms, but it was the lives that brought color. Ten illegally parked cars destroyed the grass, but we grew behind the doors. Most of us were practically strangers, but that lasted mere seconds. Pets died, but we thrived.
Bedrooms became an optional sleeping place, especially your own. Many nights were spent sleeping on couches or futon covered floors. We could almost always count on waking up to a hand or foot in our face, but it was a definite reminder that we were never alone.
Skipping class was always encouraged the first couple months of school. It was always more fun to stay at home than go to class. That last month, however, you had better get yourself to class! We were good at becoming disciplinarians for one another once finals week was in view.
The police department (and fire department… and alarm company… and Astro) likely knows our address off the back of their hand. I will just leave that one at that.
Refrigerators no longer impress us. No matter the size, we need it bigger please.
We have not seen ice cubes in two years. What are ice cubes?
We always had our faithful brothers, whom we could be sure would show up with bat in hand anytime that “there was someone in our house”.
We learned how to conquer homework while dancing, television, and music was all occurring around us at once (this is no exaggeration).
Im pretty sure our church even began saving seats for us in Sunday school because they knew we were coming…just the usual-casual 20 minutes late (we never woke up on time…for anything)
And one of my favorites. We forgot how to laugh attractively. We snorted, choked, fell over, and cried from laughing so hard.
We are also the definition of imperfect people. We have wrestled in this house. We have had our sure share of debates and disagreements. We have unleashed the entire weight of the world onto one another without a moments notice.
However, living in fellowship with one another has displayed the Gospel to me every second of every day, and I am better for it. There is no other circumstance where I could have seen man’s sin meet the love of God, in the deep and gracious way that this house revealed to me. I have watched you lavish grace upon grace to one another. I daily saw you encouraging and serving one another. I watched you humble yourselves to tend to one another. I watched you learn to enjoy the things each other enjoyed. I listened as you planned surprises for one another. I have watched you love to all ends.
You do not just create memories like these by moving in with people; you create memories like these by living alongside of people.
“By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.” -Proverbs 24
I am so proud of you Slater House. I am so proud of the life you have breathed into this plot of land (and by land I really mean the whole world). I am so thankful for you.
In just 12 days we will begin our departure from this house. We will walk out the same way we walked in. Perhaps we will even use different doors as we go. We will go on to tackle the rest of the world.
Always remember, Slater Crew (and Gale), this house was never meant to be our eternal resting place. No matter where we go from here, we are always home. Xoxo
“For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.” - Hebrews 13
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5zCDFQKkHk
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