Skip to main content

hmm.....

Not previously a blogger, I started one this summer when I went to Israel (the trip of my life so far....you truly must go one day). Almost a year later, I have decided that I'm going to start keeping up with this once again. And so, here we are. No promises. No guarantees. Just thoughts and stories from the journey God gives me.

This past year or so has been one of changes and new beginnings. Graduating college. Summer in Israel. First year as a teacher. Moving home. Building new relationships. It is strange how many things can come and go -- and change -- in the course of a year. I had the opportunity to go to Athens again this week and spend time with some truly missed friends. I love Athens. It is a beautiful place with a great atmosphere that will always hold a special place in my heart. While there this week, I was reminded of how much has changed, yet still, somehow, stayed the same.

What is most beautiful to me is that no matter how long it has been or how far apart we are, whenever true friends come together again, it is as though nothing has changed. One of my fears in graduating was that the friendships that were built would change and possibly fade away. Inevitably, it will happen with some relationships -- it always does. But sometimes, relationships escape that fate, coming out of the growth period stronger and more wonderful than they were before. These are the relationships that will last. And these are the friends that will be there for you no matter what, no matter where. That is a magnificent blessing.

It also became obvious to me how much I have grown throughout this last year. Though you grow everyday, you often overlook the many ways in which this happens until you are in a place which enables you to see your life in a new light. Over the past year, I've become so much more independent. I'm not as worried all the time, and definitely go with the flow more. There are a few other things I feel have changed in my life, but I won't bore you with the details :)

One of the major things I'm trying to figure out right now is what it truly means for me to live as a child of the King and where He is leading me now. How do I truly love the people I interact with daily? How do I move beyond things that have happened in order to embrace the things that will happen? As I wrestle with these questions, one over-arching idea is becoming more and more clear to me everyday. God is in control and He loves me. His plan for me is perfect -- it may terrify me at times, but it is perfect for me. And, living this life is not about me. Living abundantly in honor of the King, inside His perfect will, loving Him and loving others. That is what this is about -- this beautiful, winding, interesting journey...


A favorite quote:
There are always two voices inside of us: the voice of fear and the voice of faith. One is the clamor of the senses. The other is the whispering of God.
John Mason










Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

happy new year! and....a quarter of a century

happy new year, my friends! i hope you celebrated in a fun way and were with people you love :) i was able to see some friends i never get to see new year's eve...and then was back at my parents' house by around 10:15...and was in bed by 11:30.... i did not stay awake to welcome in 2010, but i'm ok with that :) in other news, i'll be a quarter of a century old in a week. 25... i'm not one to freak out about my age (at least not yet) but 25 is a good year, i think. and in honor of my turning 25, i've decided to make lists of 25. because it'll be fun, and who doesn't love a good list? and because i spent yesterday traveling, the first list is a travel list, but is by no means complete or comprehensive....there's no way i could make a full list of everywhere i've been or would like to go.... so, enjoy!! 25 places i've traveled or would like to travel (red = where i've been, blue = where i'd like to go) 1. new orleans,...
5 comments
Read more

motivation!

i think you should know that as i was typing the title to this post, i was singing it to a made up tune in my head... i have two papers due next week. one massive one and one that won't be so difficult. this means however, that i have less than a week to finish both of them and that means that i cannot spend any time doing anything other than work, school, or writing/researching. but. i've developed this "fall break is almost here, i don't want to do anything important right now" mentality. which is curious since i'll be doing school stuff all during fall break simply to catch up and then get ahead a little. so tonight, as i am about to get started on my work, i made a "motivation sheet!" that i can look at when i want to give up: using that verse might be a bit of a stretch, since i doubt the writer was thinking about writing 20 pg papers when he said it, but it seemed to fit. it includes baking and crafting and spending time with people, of cours...
3 comments
Read more

pigeon love

yesterday, i was walking to my car and heard a pigeon. this is not especially unusual because there are pigeons all over the place, their presence just outside my house encouraged by the bird feeder hanging from one of the trees. however, this pigeon caught my attention because it was loud, close and sounded strange. i looked down and saw this pigeon essentially pacing back and forth by the wheels of a car.... where his pigeon friend had been the wheel's unfortunate victim and was no longer with us.  y'all... the pigeon was mourning the loss of his friend. it was so sad and sweet and touching.  i honestly wish i had had a camera to capture the moment. but it got me thinking. about friends, family, community, etc. being missed. don't we all want to be missed and mourned like the poor pigeon was? the kind of people that make the world, our communities, our families, and our friendships better because we are a part of them? and isn't that wh...
2 comments
Read more