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 networking

/ˈnɛtwəːkɪŋ/

noun: networking

1. the action or process of interacting with others to exchange information and develop professional or social contacts.

It's weird how normal social skills have had to become a part of what I do for work. In one way, it is amazing the connections that can be traced to and from every which and way through so many different avenues of faith to similar interests to work to church to mutual friends & acquaintances. It's sooo exciting to meet people and find where we all fit in this great big world.

 I guess you could say it started with the attempt at hiking Flagstaff Mountain in Tamworth, a 5km round trip from the top of Oxley Lookout. Except it did start awhile before that. 

The end of last year (and most of this one!) was hectic for me.

Tamworth had been working its way into my heart since Country Music 2020, and perhaps even before then. It wormed its way down and out, resulting in a job offer to work for Scripture Union in the North West of all places. 

October saw me serving at a leadership conference with my future boss, the purchase of my first car, resigning from my much loved church office job. 

November saw my start with SU, taking on afternoon oosh shifts at home when I could get them (afternoon so I'd have enough space for driving time), covering two days of chaplaincy in the north west region, travelling back and forth from Tamworth to home several times a week, finalising work with my parents and the office, handing over leading a bible study. 

December saw preparation for Christmas carols at my home church, the start of packing up my belongings, resigning from oosh, spending as much time as I could with my Maitland crew. 

🍂
I thought I knew what love was:
feeling the dying summer sun’s kiss on my warmth-craving skin;
when the earth feels like a warm embrace to my bare feet,
the air tastes like reminiscing.
Love like a spring fever, turning cold and winterish so slowly,
so gradually I can hardly tell that the season’s changing at all,
as autumn results in a fall;
that’s all I know.
April invites the mountains,
the rivers and birds May call for attention,
on the brink of the most beautiful destruction and preparation,
enough to be felt within my bones;
the sun on my skin like a lover gazing into my eyes,
trying to tell me something true,
this is what autumn is:
the breeze gently asking this world
are you ready?
Make the most of me.
Green sprouts of hope,
blue skies of purity;
it really is so simple!
Creation at its finest,
tainting memories with its beauty.
Love, like fall, doesn’t always stay
a bittersweet taste;
but heartbreak is cared for in the sweetest way,
Fall in love.
Fall:
the years March into the past, but fall
is always just around the corner,
to sweeten the break,
to soften the ache,
to gently heal the pain
and remind me that beginnings
sometimes start with a fall,
to take me deeper
and deeper;
to give courage
for the winter.
Because love lingers
where I least expect...
and fall reflections
will once again
lift my spirits.
🧡
- olivia jane