A little over a year ago, I took a big step out of my comfort zone. For almost my entire life, I'd lived within a half hour's drive of the rural hospital in East Georgia where I was born. At age 38, I made the leap outside the 912 area code and moved with my husband to a town not so different from my own, but it was not home.
The first few months were difficult, as I returned "home" several times to wrap up work projects and finalize details for listing our home. I often left Metter in tears, heading southwest feeling like my heart was breaking.
In an effort to help our kids get acclimated to their new town, we signed up for the Boy Scout troop that was meeting at St. Anne's. On the night of the first meeting, unsure where to go, I walked into the ministry center and ran into Fr. Lonnie who directed me to the parish hall. As he walked us over, I told him that I was somewhat of a lapsed Episcopalian and that I'd grown up at Good Shepherd Swainsboro while Rev.Sonia Sullivan was the Rector there. Of course, Lonnie knew Sonia and several other Good Shepherd alums. For the first time in what seemed like forever, I started to feel okay.
As a family, we drifted into becoming regulars at St. Anne's. The rhythms of the Eucharist, the smells of incense, the quiet moments in the service -all were balm to my weary soul. In a place that was very like "home", but yet was not, I began to feel a sense of peace, of comfort. Like this was the place I was supposed to be - this place, these people, this was the real reason we turned our whole lives upside down.
The ensuing year hasn't been without its challenges. Almost nothing has gone according to plan. All the good reasons, the "pros" from our list had suddenly evaporated, except for the one pro that we never counted on - the community we'd found. As the struggle continues, the one place that I can come and know that I'll leave in a better, more peaceful frame of mind than when I arrived, where I will find friendship, solace, and comfort in the ancient rituals, mysteries, and sacraments, is St. Anne's.
Betsy McGriff
