Yes. I'm Fine. Thank you for Asking.

<figure class=" sqs-block-image-figure intrinsic " > Ten days ago, I made a dramatic life-change. I moved from Nashville where I had lived for 22 years to Durham, NC where I went to school for the past four. I was in a Master of Divinity program in a hybrid format where I continued to live in Nashville but visited Durham one week each in January, May, and August and then participated in the remainder of the classes on-line via zoom. My “intensive weeks” were challenging, but I felt comfortable in Durham and fell in love with the people I met and the area surrounding Duke University. I grew up in a college town and knew that I’d like to spend my retirement years near a vibrant academic community.&nbsp;News had spread that I moved into a Continuing Care Retirement Center, The Forest at Duke, and many friends have called to inquire about my health, presuming that I have a serious disease that mandated that I move into a retirement community. I’m in the independent living section and very healthy. I have high blood pressure and a vitamin D deficiency that are well-controlled with medication, and am still, thankfully, cancer-free. I decided to move now rather than when I was forced to, as there are significant waiting lists (up to five years or more) and I wanted to enjoy the freedom of having everything cared for in my apartment, including weekly housekeeping. My Nashville home was just too big for me to keep up, and I didn’t need all that space. In addition, the house had some emotional baggage that I should have moved on from years ago, and it is very freeing to be in a new place. More on that in a future post.&nbsp;Now that I’m in Durham, I had the pleasure of attending Christmas Eve Services at Duke Chapel. Rev. Luke Powery in his homily quoted from “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” as well as Nietzsche who said “Christians have no joy.” Powery continued that instead of the virtue of joy, we’ve replaced it with capitalism, nationalism, authoritarianism, materialism, historical revisionism, and other “isms” (e.g. Chapel Hill’ism, a local rivalry). He comments that by the look of social media posts from self-proclaimed Christians, they no longer have “joy” in their life.&nbsp;It’s a great lesson for me as I want to be a Christian that exudes joy. Hopefully you will know that I am a Christian, not because I tell you, but because of the joy I have in my life.&nbsp;The next day on Christmas there was a wonderful brunch at the Retirement Center that was packed with residents, family members, and other guests. As I walked in, I noticed the Christmas decorations, and particularly the large red letters “JOY” that were over the carving station. It was a great connection for me that as a Christian, if I don’t have “joy” in my life, well then, I’m not really a Christian.&nbsp;I wish you JOY not just in this season of Christmastide, but forever.&nbsp;Blessings, my friend,Agatha&nbsp; Yes. I'm Fine. Thank you for Asking Agatha Nolen Download