A letter: To My Woodruff Apartment
I MOVED!
Yes, last week I said goodbye to my little woodruff apartment and moved into the cutest house in a neighborhood on the north side of downtown Indianapolis called Broadripple. In moving I was excited and mourning all at the same time. I mourned moving out of the apartment that brought so much healing. In the woodruff apartment I grew and developed like I was in my very own greenhouse. I had the space to adjust to working nights, I had the space to recharge and find rest and I had the space to give myself what I desperately needed in solitude.
Now, I’m excited to host pancake breakfasts and bonfires and house shows and facilitate community in this new space with my roommate. I’m ready to show hospitality and generosity just like Jesus did and I know I’m only able to do that through my rest.
So, what follows is a letter to my little woodruff apartment.
Dear Woodruff Apt,
This is a letter of gratitude.
This is a letter thanking you for the arms stretched out to me when I needed rest.
I was tired and bitter from life’s trials and I was desperately seeking a refuge to rest, a place to hide, a space to make my own and feel whole. You opened your arms to me on the wings of a lunar moth and smiled with the soft diffuse light coming through magnolia leafs with knowledge that this would be a good year for me. I don’t know how many other people you’ve held but when I met you, you knew you would hold me well.
In your light I spent mornings studying the words of Jesus. I wrote out songs of David and teachings of Paul. I strummed and sang melodies to the God of grace and refuge. You encouraged me with walls of security and offered this space as sacred. This was important to me and you knew that.
You held my clothes scattered and dishes on counters without judgement. You knew I wasn’t around much because I was at work. And when I came home I didn’t want to do anything but sleep so blocked the light with your back and took the heat so I could stay cool. You didn’t even make a sound for fear I would wake up.
You invited others with open arms. Though the times were few and only with the most intimate of friends you welcomed them in as our own. You fostered the cozy environment that let people know this was a safe space. This was a space to be loved and to be whole. You knew I only let a few inside and you honored them well.
Throughout the year we lived together you saw tears of mourning and tears of laughter. You watched my plants grow and sprout new leafs just like I did. Through it all you held my hand and for that I’m forever grateful.
All my love,
-Michelle