I have been in San Angelo for a little over three years now. The first year and a half was pretty miserable. I moved from the city and constantly questioned myself as to why I would do that. I really refused to make friends, to stay in San Angelo on the weekends and to be any sort of happy. I went home practically every weekend, made plans with my friends in DFW and generally thought life would be so much better if I was just back in the city.
San Angelo has a way of eating on you though and eventually I came to love San Angelo. I started getting involved, making friends here and learned to love life in San Angelo. I love that I can get anywhere in 10 minutes, I can go to restaurants where they know my order when I walk in, where I can run anywhere in town and not fear for my life and where I can be involved and make an impact in my community. Now, I wouldn't go as far as to say that I have adopted shopping habits in San Angelo. I still prefer the J. Crews and Banana Republics and organic fresh groceries, but there has to be some give, right?
My life here in San Angelo has developed into a great journey. As I drove back across town to work this afternoon, I reflected on my life over the last three years. I was leaving an agency that I have committed to serving through December, but more than that committed to serving the community. I recanted in my mind the different things I do and am involved in here, now, and it seems like that life that I had when I first moved to San Angelo is non-existent.
Most of my time now consists of church, work and volunteering. Volunteering for church activities and community activities. It seems as if I roll out of work into doing something every evening of the week. Sometimes I get pretty exhausted by it all and by the time Friday rolls around I'm ready to go home, change straight into my pajamas and stay on the couch the rest of the evening.
I wouldn't change a thing. I think it is so important to serve where you live. It is important to serve God, it is important to serve the community you live in. It is important to get involved, know what is going on and be a part of the community. It wasn't till I started serving in the community that I really began to love San Angelo and it wasn't till I started serving God in this community that I started loving MY life here.
Do you serve where you live?
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