I recently had a heartfelt conversation with my dear friend, Nicole, who is my sister and my former roommate. We reminisced about our old apartment, which had transformed into a haven of solace and rejuvenation. It had become so inviting that visitors often found it difficult to leave and frequently requested to spend the night.
When I invited Nicole to live with me, we were both going through a transition period. We had been released from our full-time positions in the ministry due to our association with a married couple who faced certain controversies.
Unemployed and on the verge of eviction, we found ourselves stepping out of our comfort zones while experiencing rejection from our church community, who assumed we had done something wrong.
Nicole, being wise beyond measure, suggested that we partake in communion even before we began packing her belongings. This simple act set the tone for the new chapter in our relationship.
We were both grieving our past lives; I was still mourning the loss of my parents and the end of a tumultuous relationship with my ex-partner that had lasted for a decade. However, during this time, I was also reintroduced to a high school friend who would eventually become my husband.
During our first year as roommates, we secured gainful employment and diligently served in volunteer leadership roles. I even had the opportunity to write and publish my first book, helping Nicole establish her own branded online presence.
Our vision boards began to materialize before our eyes, thanks to the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the unwavering support of our covenant community.
We had embarked on a journey towards healing, and over a decade since we lived together, we still fondly reminisced about those moments when we would set our home thermostat to the comforting setting of “Sanctuary.”
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