Immediate

Frequently we get so caught up in the complications of everyday life that we forget to look at the larger picture that does not revolve around the minute details of assignments and exams. Other times, we are so focused on the external and the things we could be doing instead of writing papers, but it is a process of traveling along one’s path and the beauty of learning that helps us put ourselves and our lives into perspective.

I have been reminded of this more so than ever in the past 15 days. Going away during reading break was amazing: I refused to do homework and devoted the 9 days I was gone to doing God’s work. Good plan #1. I learned so much about myself, other people and God and I wouldn’t be able to pick out one amazing moment: the whole trip was such a huge learning curve.

The trip wasn’t the problem. The jet lag (which I have never experienced before! Weird!) wasn’t the problem.

The problem was myself and getting back into the swing of things. I was so focused on God’s plan for the week that I forgot my role as a student and couldn’t find the drive to further my education when there were so many people who needed furthering in Jesus.

I couldn’t find that happy medium that God wants for my life right now. I am looking too far forward in the future and not at the importance of life as it happens. They always say to live in the moment: I was living here, but not focusing here.

What really helped ground me was the firm solution I have in 1. God and 2. My friends. My family is alway there for me; it is inevitable so I shan’t even go into detail in how they support me: they are just an assumed reality. I am so blessed.

1. God is … I can’t even explain. One verse that seems to be really expressed in my life as of late is “love covers a multitude of sins’ (Prov 10:12). As Christians, we have been encouraged to swing away from chrinstianese… words like transgressions, blood of the lamb, sin… you get the picture. Words that people commonly associate with Christians because of how stereotypical they sound. So in the basic ‘me-speak’, I define the verse as something that was meaningful to me. As I heard the verse in proverbs, I immediately swung into two modes. The first mode goes, ‘fewf, He still loves me’. The second mode made me pause for a minute: it had to hook up with the concept of ‘God is love’.

God covers a boatload of sins. — Yusssss. He’s got my back, he’ll always love me and he sent Jesus to spread-eagle out over my screw-ups so God looks through himself.

It doesn’t matter how many times I make mistakes; it doesn’t matter how many times I may faceplant. My friend is trying to get me to ride his longboard: I am currently learning to skateboard (but apparently longboarding is easier) and while it is hard to put your faith in balance and a plank of wood, it is a riot. It is scary though when you think you are going to biff it and totally wipe out: I’d like to keep my face moderately intact if that’s cool.

God’s got my back no matter the silly things I do. He is going to love me and believe in me and want me to carry on with His plans even when I am staring up at the sky just after falling off my board.

So that is my current thought on how awesome he is.

2. My friends– again, i can’t really say that i would be the same without them. Going from one perspective to another? Got to possibly be on of the most amazing opportunities.

This same friend with the board has been a total rock for me in the past two weeks; between the two of us, we have tackled several very large hills and I am so thankful to have had him help me along. I have seven very close friends: all of them go to my school, but i have met them through several eclectic situations. One, I have known longer than my biological brother, another is my tea partner, another two I can watch chick flicks with … though they don’t really know each other, another got me through the hardest bio class of life, another is one who makes me smile with her complicated ‘boy situations’ and the final one is the boarder. God has blessed me so much: that I may call these people my friends? They have picked me up through the gong-shows. They have held my hand when I had nothing but tears.

Anyways; so between God, my friends and my family, I have been able to sit up through the lying-down moments. I have been able to make a comeback from melancholy boredom with school to putting a final effort in the last burst of classes. Just a little over a month and a half to go and thus concludes the first year of post-secondary.

This year has been the most life-changing: I have found God personally, I found that he wants me to minister to his people in the UK, I have encountered some of the most amazing people and I have found peace, understanding and community.

Keeping back on track: I am good to go.

Thanks Jesus.♡