From Atlanta to London: A Faith Journey of Downsizing, Divine Guidance & Surrender

I threw another blazer into the donation pile, watching eleven years of my life grow higher and higher. The January wind whistled through my closet as designer labels and comfort pieces alike met their fate. 'Let go of more. Pack light,' the voice whispered, and I froze, one hand still gripping my favorite Zara blazer sleeve. My entire life needed to fit into a spicy red Away carry-on, a trunk and a Monos large luggage, and I was failing miserably. Each discarded item felt like another piece of my identity crashing to the floor, shattering into memories I couldn't pack either. I never thought moving across the ocean would first require moving mountains of clothes, but here I was, about to trade everything familiar for London fog and rain. If only I'd known then that emptying my closet in 2023 was just the beginning of emptying myself."

 The journey to this moment began in 2022 when my spirit sister Amanita invited me to a spiritual retreat - the kind of pause that gives new meaning to divine meeting.  After years of post-divorce wandering – throwing myself into my career like a half-hearted moth to flame, collecting false starts and disappointments, and carrying expectations that weighed heavier each day – I was ready for real transformation, so I gladly accepted. During the retreat, I decided to “Give myself away so He could use me.” I remember crying as I uttered the words of the verse, my breath escaping me, and mild panic ensuing as reality hit that I truly meant what I was saying. Over daily conversations that went deeper than any therapy session, God began revealing a different path, showing me my gifts and promising more if I was willing to walk with Him. Like seeds breaking open in dark soil, something new was beginning to grow and I was about that life! Or, so I would become. 

Life began throwing divine curveballs: a work trip that turned into a soul-searching month in Italy, where every shared meal and breathtaking view became a meditation on His presence (and yes, I drank every espresso and ate ALL the pasta, pizza, and steak because food is one of life's purest joys). My son moving in with his father - an act of obedience that cracked my heart in two but taught me that love sometimes means letting go and trusting God’s plan. A story for another blog post. Downsizing from a three-bedroom house to a studio apartment became an exercise in discovering what truly matters when you strip away all the excess. It was painful. It was beautiful. I felt alone. I felt concerned about what my son would think, what others would tell him, and what others would think. I remained faithful, and God honored my request to live in a walkable neighborhood with healthy grocery stores, awnings, and a city skyline view. G and I enjoyed the skyline views!

By 2024, my business received the rescue breath that it needed. I had clients whose missions lit a fire in me – if I could help other companies, why would I keep hiding? Revenue was flowing, clients were happy, and I could finally see the full-service firm I'd dreamed about years before taking shape. Then came the divine plot twist: God started telling me to say no to new business. My brother called with a vision: close the business entirely. What, close my business? It seemed crazy, but God wasn't asking for my opinion – He was asking for my obedience. Within five months, I found myself referring my cherished clients to other vendors, dismantling everything I'd built, and wondering if the life I was finally starting to enjoy was just a short-lived dream.

Then came a vivid dream that changed everything. I found myself standing in a sea of white, breath visible in the cold air, wearing more layers than I ever needed. I laughed it off and disregarded it– until my brother called with the exact same vision. 'You're going to London for work,' he said, confirming the whispers I'd been trying to ignore. The United Kingdom? A place I'd only seen in fog-filled Google searches and rainy movie scenes? A place that had never once made my travel bucket list? But God wasn't just nudging anymore; He was making billboards and His plans crystal clear.

Standing here now, surrounded by the remnants of my carefully curated life, I understand three truths:

First, God's greatest transformations often begin with subtle surrenders. Starting with surrendering to the numbing process of divorce. Every swallowed response to my ex’s nonchalant behavior, every 'no' to or from a client, every “see you later, papi” to my son at the airport, every donated piece of clothing was preparation for this moment. He wasn't just asking me to pack light – He was teaching me that sometimes your next level requires letting go of everything familiar.

Second, there's profound wisdom in life's plot twists. Just when my business seemed like it was becoming the creative sanctuary I'd dreamed of, just when I'd found my rhythm in this new life, God revealed that my growth required a complete change of scenery. (Yes, I'm still trying to wrap my head around trading Atlanta's blue skies and cotton candy clouds for London's grey fog, light mist, and cold temperatures.)

Finally, the scariest part isn't the moving across an ocean – it's the profound intimacy of letting go. Letting go of control, of plans, of the identity I'd built. But here's what I've learned: God doesn't empty our hands just to leave them empty. He creates space for something better.

As I zip up my spicy red carry-on, now somehow containing what's left of my Atlanta life, I realize that the Holy Spirit wasn't just talking about luggage. 'Pack light' wasn't just about clothes – it was about trusting and relying on God in this next chapter. Sometimes, God's greatest adventures require nothing more than an empty closet and a willing heart. And maybe, just maybe, that's exactly what “Giving myself away, so You can use me” was always meant to look like – a complete surrender to the divine dance of transformation, served with a side of faith and courage. 

Love, Charlene