Everyone has those days, regardless of age, where you look around you and are like "When did that happen? When did people start doing that? How long's that been going on for?" Face it, it's that day when we realize we feel really old and realize the future and all it contains - our plans, hopes, fears - is now and rapidly approaching.
I mean, not even a year ago, I was in high school, eagerly and fearfully anticipating the next step in life. And now, it's mid-April of my freshman year of college and I'll be going home for my first college summer in less than two weeks. I mean, dang, I look at my Facebook feed and see this year's high school seniors and just be like, "Yeah, been there done that. Oh, you'll find out."
Haha. Like I'm some old wise scholar who has traveled the high school world and back and know all.
I wish. Actually, not really, there are cooler things to be well-cultured in.
Anyways, lately I've been talking to a bunch of my friends back home and I've realized that it ain't going to be the same. And you know what? I'm totally fine with that. I really enjoy my life here in Wisconsin and likely will stay for a while. Those friends who I still talk to from Minnesota, we share a strong bond of friendship that distance really can't get rid of, so I'm not worried. Yes, the relationship will surely be different and perhaps a little more awkward at points, but we can always recover.
Then again, it's gonna get really weird here when my friends start getting married. Which is happening, by the way.
It's already happening. :O
Seriously, once one person pops the question, two or three follow, and it's just a cascade effect. That's not necessarily a bad thing, the ones I know here who are engaged are older and defiantly have God's blessing in their planned marriage. But it's just a little scary when you think about how soon that happens and how likely it is in all of our futures. My mom got married when she was barely 23; that's less that four years from where I am now. :O Do I have to catch up, or should I be fine where I am now? I believe I'm perfectly fine here now, but it's a feeling that always persists.
Well, don't you all go off getting married now. There's so much more to do while I'm single, and I haven't experienced it all yet.
Till next blog (hopefully in summer...)
Jacob
Monday, April 22, 2013
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Enough
Ain't college just full of wonders, both good and bad? I'll admit, I've never really enjoyed myself as much as I have in college at times, and I've never felt as hopeless as I have before either. With such a wide spectrum of emotions in one place, it's amazing that we pay this much for college.
Developments have definitely put an interesting twist on life in the past few months. People, both new and old, have entered my life with new significance and leaving me with new thoughts on how much I really value them and what they mean to me.
Summed up, they mean a heck of a lot. From the best friend to the forever friend. From that friend we love but acts stupid to the flirty relationship three years in the making.
I love these people and wouldn't give the world for them. I hope we have nothing but fun times in the future together.
Yet, what if they were all taken away?
I've been pondering that question a lot recently. Going back over break and seeing some old friends really made me realize how much I value and appreciate one. As I take more steps towards being a completely independent man, I have also realized the value of being dependent on someone else for things as well. The American culture hates that; we need to be able to do everything on our own, without assistance from a second or third party. You're weak if you can't give your best effort. I certainly believe in some of those standings, yet as a Christian, I realize how weak we truly are; how much we can't do on our own and what we really need.
A relationship with God is enough. Everything else is secondary. God blesses those who follow him; the entire book of Job is about a Godly man who is blessed, cursed, then blessed more than he was before that! Yes, Christianity should be one concerned for the poor, but many feel that you can't have abundant money and follow him. False. It can be harder, but it's definitely possible!
But I'm ranting, back to my point.
As Lecrae so accurately puts it, God is enough. My litmus test is this; am I so dependent on a person that I could not function were they not in my life? If so, I really need to adjust my priorities and relationships. Thankfully right now, there are no relationships where I would be non-functional without. Yes, their absence would suck a lot, but in the end, we would all survive.
That doesn't mean he is going to take away everyone we love. Sure, some challenges will be in our life that will change those, but in the end everything is for our benefit. It's a long race, as described in Hebrews, but we can be confident we'll cross the finish line alive if we just trust in him.
So, readers, how dependent are your relationships? Is God alone enough?
Jacob
Developments have definitely put an interesting twist on life in the past few months. People, both new and old, have entered my life with new significance and leaving me with new thoughts on how much I really value them and what they mean to me.
Summed up, they mean a heck of a lot. From the best friend to the forever friend. From that friend we love but acts stupid to the flirty relationship three years in the making.
I love these people and wouldn't give the world for them. I hope we have nothing but fun times in the future together.
Yet, what if they were all taken away?
I've been pondering that question a lot recently. Going back over break and seeing some old friends really made me realize how much I value and appreciate one. As I take more steps towards being a completely independent man, I have also realized the value of being dependent on someone else for things as well. The American culture hates that; we need to be able to do everything on our own, without assistance from a second or third party. You're weak if you can't give your best effort. I certainly believe in some of those standings, yet as a Christian, I realize how weak we truly are; how much we can't do on our own and what we really need.
A relationship with God is enough. Everything else is secondary. God blesses those who follow him; the entire book of Job is about a Godly man who is blessed, cursed, then blessed more than he was before that! Yes, Christianity should be one concerned for the poor, but many feel that you can't have abundant money and follow him. False. It can be harder, but it's definitely possible!
But I'm ranting, back to my point.
As Lecrae so accurately puts it, God is enough. My litmus test is this; am I so dependent on a person that I could not function were they not in my life? If so, I really need to adjust my priorities and relationships. Thankfully right now, there are no relationships where I would be non-functional without. Yes, their absence would suck a lot, but in the end, we would all survive.
That doesn't mean he is going to take away everyone we love. Sure, some challenges will be in our life that will change those, but in the end everything is for our benefit. It's a long race, as described in Hebrews, but we can be confident we'll cross the finish line alive if we just trust in him.
So, readers, how dependent are your relationships? Is God alone enough?
Jacob
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