For the last month we have hosted an exchange student from Germany. J is delightful. He is enthusiastic about everything and is willing to try anything—any food, any game, any show, any activity. We are having the best time. Watching J have a good experience with America and American school for the first time reminds me of all the positive things about our country.

When my son was in Germany with J’s family, his experience unfolded in a similar fashion. He was mostly enthusiastic about things. He loved the independence and the newness and the differences between Europe and back home. I felt like I was living abroad again for the first time! I was so happy for him. No one can ever take this experience from either young man. Hopefully, they will remember the good for always.

This exchange experience—for us as hosts and for my son being hosted—has made me reflective about first time experiences. I have thought alot about how much I love experiencing things for the first time. The joy of the first time is why I travel, or try new wine, or read a new book, or write a new blog, or try a new anything (mahjong, pilates, pottery class to name a few new ones).

I really, really love watching others experience things for the first time. There is so much joy in it. The expectation. The nervousness. The conquering. Their own realization that they like it (whatever it is). The independence gained. The excitement of discovery. It is all good.

The joy of the first time is also why I teach. My favorite thing about a speech therapy session is the moment “it clicks” for my student. I get so excited when I hear a newly perfected sound for the first time. Or when a student reads a sentence fluently with no errors! The pride and satisfaction in their whole body is the best thing ever!

Interestingly enough, this past Sunday’s sermon was on Revelations 2:1-7 and the “You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling” singing scene from Top Gun. Our minister explained how chapter 2 is a collection of letters to the early churches—the first one being Ephesus. In these letters, John is reminding the church what it felt like the first time they found God through Jesus (i.e. that loving feeling). John then goes on to exhort the church to change their mindsets to get that feeling back, because “you’ve lost that loving feeling.” There was alot more to the sermon and it was certainly more eloquently explained and delivered than this basic recap, but hopefully you see where I’m going with Pastor Dave’s most excellent thoughts!

The point is, I am a seeker of those first time feelings. When my life is not “feeling” like it should, I need to examine what I am doing and make it right. Ofcourse, life isn’t all about feelings. I could use any number of grownup words here: discernment, wonder, hope, duty, love…. If a speech session isn’t going well, tomorrow is another day. I go back to the drawing board and work it out (discernment, hope, faith). If my calendar is too full and I’m filling my life with empty “doings”, I stop and take time to “be” instead (wonder, rest, presence). If I have a disagreement with a friend or my child or my spouse, I try to remember what made our relationship special in the first place and then go and make it right (love, compassion, forgiveness, hope). The joy of those first time feelings centers me within the fruits of the spirit (Galations 5:22-23) and I am closer to the intersection of love of God and love of Neighbor, which is where Jesus wants us to be.

So I encourage you to experience a first sometime soon, whether it is a literal first for you, or you cheer on someone else. Maybe it will reveal something to you—an old feeling or a new one, a fresh perspective, a newfound gentleness, or excitement, or patience, or kindness? Those first time joys bring in the light and the love and the hope we all need to keep our faith in humanity.

Love Y’all,

Marla