Continuing a Divine Adventure 2022

 By Rev. Katharine Baugh

It has been just over a year since I moved to Michigan to the small town in Central Lake, MI. I would call this past year a year of learning to “surrender” to events and changes in my life. I never thought of living where I am, but I am learning to enjoy and actually love where I have “landed”. The area I am living in is in the upper part of Lower Michigan with lots of freshwater lakes (besides giant Lake Michigan that is just a few miles away)... and open land with fruit trees (mostly cherries), some corn-- and acres and acres of grass, forests, rolling hills. It is a vacation area for many living south and in hot steamy weather…. but it is not so busy to have traffic jams! It reminds me of what Cape Cod was 40-50 years ago when I first lived there. Increase in tourist traffic, but not too much, and wide open roads in the winter.

One of the best events for me was when my son, Chad, bought a condo in Central Lake, MI for me….. I now do not have to move every few months into a rental… IF you can find them! It was becoming more and more difficult with the housing market to find a good place I could afford to rent. Now I am settled into a small town where I can walk to everything! Library next door, Post Office 1 block away, along with the small Market, Pharmacy, and several lovely shops to browse….. I feel very blessed.

 
As for my spiritual life, there is a lovely Spiritualist summer camp about 4 miles down the road from me that is a joy to be a part of. It is on a lake with lots of lovely old trees on the property that keep it cool in the summer. The church is a white “little church in the woods” that has a morning and evening service on Sunday and during the summer. Guest ministers come frequently and there is mediation group, bible study group, and other offerings to feed your soul. A big crowd at church is 20 people...

It was not easy to leave Cape Cod and all the people and places that I was connected to for 52 years... but I am finding peace and new friends in this rural community. I finally surrender, with joy and gratitude and peace in my heart. Life is an adventure that surprises us at times. Greeting each change in my life with love and gratitude in my heart is a habit that is getting easier….

When I am successful at this, there is joy and peace in my heart. God is good, and I am still on a Divine Adventure!