Considering the past & presenting the moment
"The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love,
he will rejoice over you with singing."
Zephaniah 3:17
A friend wrote that in a note yesterday, and my eyes glistened as God revealed His love to me. As I understand what a human I am, His love means so much more!
And He has blessed me so much through these past few months (if I were to mention the past years, this would be an awfully long xanga!). My time at CH was so incredible - challenging, stretching, and oh-so fun! Though I was late arriving at the camp, and leaving half the time for road trips, the staff all welcomed me in and taught me so much about enjoying life, even on the hard days (I'll never forget our mischevious midnight adventure on the roof, girls!). The guests humbled me with how much they had to teach me, as well. And the Lord overwhelmed me with how consistently He gave me strength and love when I could not do things on my own.
Those road trips I just mentioned were like dreams come true! Though I wasn't able to travel all across North America to see everyone I wanted to, the number of dear friends I got to visit between Northern Ontario, Missouri, and Alberta was surprising! On St. Joe's Island I saw one of my first friends, who I've known since we were toddlers, and the sweetest couple who practically raised us as their grandkids. At the end of the summer (I was supposed to be at my school's orientation, but this was so worth it!) Allison & I visited another dear friend in Missouri who we spent almost every day with during my funnest childhood years in Laird (and those were some of the funnest days of summer, too - dancing in the fountain & hanging out like old times... don't-move-or-the-log-will-roll-over!), and many of my precious Discover "family" as we attended the first wedding of my group of friends. I also loved being able to drive on these trips with Keith and Darcie and with Allison. Whether we listened to Narnia on CD, or slept at truck stops, or drove long hours straight, or missed our exits, or stopped for photo shoots in the hayfield or the park, or sang along with Christmas tunes, or whatever we did while sitting in that old green van, I loved it! It was so great to be reminded by every one of you what my story is and who I am through all the changes and growing up! I wish I could have everyone all together with me, all the time!
But now I'm walking on a new trail, here in Edmonton. Studying Psychology instead of Architecture was a huge decision, but being here is such a great experience! The semester began with an incredible weekend retreat in the mountains, where I got to do rad things like rappelling, mountain biking and rock climbing :) Now I am constantly being challenged by my new friends and experiences to live out what I believe, whether it means visiting the homeless on Whyte Ave (it really openned my eyes to find brothers and sisters in Christ there, who sing "Amazing Grace" with more exuberance than any of us with roofs over our heads and food in our stomachs), or sharing who Jesus is with Asian students who have never seen a Bible before. It is so easy to get caught up in our own little worlds, as I do all the time, but there's so much more to life. We are each a note played in a great symphony, and our purpose is to resound in brilliance as the Conductor intends, creating a beautiful piece which transcends time and space.
Those road trips I just mentioned were like dreams come true! Though I wasn't able to travel all across North America to see everyone I wanted to, the number of dear friends I got to visit between Northern Ontario, Missouri, and Alberta was surprising! On St. Joe's Island I saw one of my first friends, who I've known since we were toddlers, and the sweetest couple who practically raised us as their grandkids. At the end of the summer (I was supposed to be at my school's orientation, but this was so worth it!) Allison & I visited another dear friend in Missouri who we spent almost every day with during my funnest childhood years in Laird (and those were some of the funnest days of summer, too - dancing in the fountain & hanging out like old times... don't-move-or-the-log-will-roll-over!), and many of my precious Discover "family" as we attended the first wedding of my group of friends. I also loved being able to drive on these trips with Keith and Darcie and with Allison. Whether we listened to Narnia on CD, or slept at truck stops, or drove long hours straight, or missed our exits, or stopped for photo shoots in the hayfield or the park, or sang along with Christmas tunes, or whatever we did while sitting in that old green van, I loved it! It was so great to be reminded by every one of you what my story is and who I am through all the changes and growing up! I wish I could have everyone all together with me, all the time!
But now I'm walking on a new trail, here in Edmonton. Studying Psychology instead of Architecture was a huge decision, but being here is such a great experience! The semester began with an incredible weekend retreat in the mountains, where I got to do rad things like rappelling, mountain biking and rock climbing :) Now I am constantly being challenged by my new friends and experiences to live out what I believe, whether it means visiting the homeless on Whyte Ave (it really openned my eyes to find brothers and sisters in Christ there, who sing "Amazing Grace" with more exuberance than any of us with roofs over our heads and food in our stomachs), or sharing who Jesus is with Asian students who have never seen a Bible before. It is so easy to get caught up in our own little worlds, as I do all the time, but there's so much more to life. We are each a note played in a great symphony, and our purpose is to resound in brilliance as the Conductor intends, creating a beautiful piece which transcends time and space.
Now how's that for a catch-up blog?!
posted by meredow @ 11:43 p.m.
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