Jet-lagged and Fireworks
- Capital Fellows
- 2 hours ago
- 4 min read
By Jessie Abraham
A week ago, I was exhausted. Having just walked off a plane coming from India, getting into the car to head to Winter Retreat, my mind and body were fighting in every moment to stay awake. I was looking forward to the Winter Retreat; excited to see the fellows again and spend some much needed quality time with them. But let’s just say I was not prepared for a long weekend of diving deep into vocation, and solving the issue of what I am doing with my life. I was probably anticipating an information overload, partnered with crash-out. On the drive over to the lake house, I decided this weekend was going to have to be a mind over matter kind of challenge (matter being my barely functioning, jet-lagged body).
But the Lord knew I was tired. And also probably John Kyle.
In the future, when I look back, the Winter Retreat will be one of my favorite Fellows memories. First, we were in the most beautiful place, on a house besides a lake (endless thanks to the Laperriere's!!!). Second, while we started the conversation on vocation, discussing what it means to begin a job search, we spent a majority of our time playing Monopoly Deal, fishing for catfish and exploding fireworks off the dock. But what I enjoyed most about our retreat was that our fellows class was able to rest together.
There is something special about getting to rest together. In the day-to-day, it is easy to get
swept up in the busyness of Fellows life: going to work, taking classes, volunteering/ serving. In a sentence perhaps overly summarized: Our lives are full. They are full of good things, but they are full to the point that at the end of every day, as soon as I get home, I crash onto my bed and don’t move for at least five minutes. Therefore, when we actually get time to rest together as a Fellows group, those moments are all the more special. What a blessing it is to live life with people; working together, playing together and resting together.
Rest is such a gift from the Lord. He knew the limits of our bodies and minds. He created us with those limits. But he also gave us a day of rest. As Christians, when we rest together, we not only fellowship together, we fellowship with God. In our rest, then, it is so important that we thank our Father who knows us and sees us. May we always embrace this divine gift of rest, knowing it deepens our fellowship with Him and one another!
Jessie is a member of the Capital Fellows class of 2025-26. She is from Falls Church, VA, and is a graduate of Palm Beach Atlantic University. This year, she is working as an Ecclesial Fellow in the Missions ministry at McLean Presbyterian Church.
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About Capital Fellows. Capital Fellows is an advanced leadership and discipleship program for recent college graduates. Through graduate courses, a paid internship, one-on-one mentoring, and many leadership and community service opportunities, fellows develop and apply their gifts in real-world situations while learning to integrate a Christian worldview into all areas of life. Capital Fellows is a unique opportunity to live and work in the Washington DC area and to be an active member of a supportive community that seeks to serve the city with the love of Christ. It is also a unique opportunity to get hands-on experience in the workplace while deeply exploring God’s design for us as workers and contributors to human flourishing.
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