On Purpose

Why we're starting a blog & why you should read it

We’re Moving to Belfast!

In case you haven’t heard already, the Beattys will be leaving the USA on 31 August to begin our life in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Ben was accepted to Queen’s University for a one-year master’s degree in Conflict Transformation and Social Justice, and Audrey will continue working remotely. Here’s why we’re starting a blog, and why you should read it:

AUDREY | 29 Aug 2023

“You would be depriving those you leave behind of an opportunity to learn from you—and pray for you—if you don’t write about this new season of life. You’d be missing out on the benefits of true community.”

Those words, spoken by a dear friend, shocked me. The reality of what he’d said made me uncomfortable for a number of reasons. First, who would care to “learn” from us? We’re freshly married 22 & 23 year-olds moving abroad—this is supposed to be glamorous and exciting. The image-conscious part of me believed a reader would perceive our blog as flaunting—especially the close friends we’re leaving behind. But this initial reaction, once admitted, revealed to me that my assumption was that everything will go smoothly—our experience would be “grand” and “worth flaunting.” And there lay an opportunity to grow. Because the truth is, Ben & I are moving to a city that has experienced deep hurt and turmoil in the last 100 years. I will be working from home—alone on my computer every day—and Ben will be studying Conflict Transformation, a subject quite the opposite of “easy” and “grand.” He will be putting constant energy and effort into reflecting on tense topics, topics that could be all too easy to ignore back in our old, comfortable Chattanooga life. I won’t have an easy “in” to community in Belfast, either. It could be a real challenge for me to find friendship and community, whereas Ben will have a built-in cohort and sponsored events at Queens. The reality of loneliness in a big move like this feels inevitable, which adds a new dynamic to work on in our marriage. Leaning into that reality made me realize yes, I do have an opportunity to reflect in ways that could benefit a reader. And no, it won’t be flaunting. Which leads me to my second discomfort:

It would take a tremendous amount of vulnerability to share about our struggles. Being honest about the highs AND lows of moving abroad will be a challenge. This confronts a raw truth that I—we—deeply need prayer (especially when I may be tempted to rely on my independence). It will be humbling to choose to present myself as raw, real, and honest. It will be exposing. Yet…I need that. Ben and I need to search for what our friend referred to as “true community,” which I believe is built on a foundation of honesty and thus able to be covered in prayer. Yet this points to the last fear that I have about blogging—that connection through a blog is incredibly one-sided. You get to learn all about us and our life, but I have no connection to yours unless initiated. So—please. Respond as you feel called, we’d love to hear from you. We’d love to keep up-to-date in your lives and pray for you, just as we ask that you do for us! If getting this email serves as a reminder for you to reply, I would LOVE that.

So follow along with Ben & I as we move to Belfast in TWO DAYS! We’ll do our very best to be honest, to have fun, and to keep things interesting. I hope you join us as we head “yet forward” into this big adventure.

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BEN | 29 Aug 2023

What Audrey and I are going to do in 2 days is a product of a dream I’ve carried with me since I was young.

When I first heard the opening Fadd9 chord of “A Hard Days Night” (probably around 9 years old) I became obsessed with the Beatles and subsequently, British culture. That, paired with the Beatty men’s dedication to rediscovering our Belfast roots, culminated in a deep desire to spend significant time in the city my great-grandfather lived in 100 years ago.

“Awesome! Ben always wanted to go, so he uprooted his young marriage and moved far away from friends and family on a “deep desire” because of an early Beatles fandom and familial roots.”

“Oh? Belfast you say? Is it even safe??”

“So are you moving to Ireland or the UK?”

Your concerns and questions (some of which may be represented in the quotations above) are valid. I owe you explanations and answers. Blogging feels like a way in which I can communicate to you en masse, yet regularly enough to address the complicated nature of our move with the diligence your questions deserve.

I am also a notoriously bad texter/answerer of phone calls. I’m fearful distance will make this more difficult. I want you all to know what we’re up to because as Audrey so thoughtfully wrote above, we need you. We need your prayers and we need your continued influence in our lives. Hopefully this blog is a way for us to maintain closeness, while we are away. Thank you, and bear with us as Audrey and I both work out our own “writing kinks.” More to come soon.

Joyfully,

Ben