We all respond to busyness and the stress that comes from a full schedule differently. Some cave under pressure while others come alive as more is added to their plates. Honestly, at different times I can identify with both types of people.
I remember when the book Love Wins, came out. It created quite a stir
in the evangelical community as a whole, and also right here on
campus. The book was written by a popular pastor by the name of Rob
Bell. To many, this name is now synonymous with apostasy and
Godlessness. Now that the dust has settled a bit, I am respectfully
arguing that this is not the case.
My major at CIU (aside from Bible) is psychology. Over the last two years, I have had the privilege of learning from and studying under professors who know the subject well and have a passion for it. Not only do they want me to grasp psychology from a critical Biblical perspective, they desire that I develop a compassionate heart for people. If I can hold these two in balance, by the Lord’s grace, I can be an effective Biblical counselor.
I crave stability and look for it in countless places, some of which I’m too ashamed to admit. By a well-established routine, perfectly-ordered home, and carefully-managed relationships, I attempt to craft a world of consistency and security in which I can breathe easy. After all, everything has been taken care of, every detail attended to.
One of my favorite parts of college has been developing relationships with people from a variety of backgrounds and getting a glimpse into their worlds.
Over the course of four years, I’ve been able to meet countless siblings and parents of my CIU friends. I’ve traveled as far as Missouri and Pennsylvania and made several trips to different cities in Florida. Most recently, I had the chance to meet a friend’s family in Savannah and explore one of America’s favorite cities for the first time.
“If we make secondary things primary, they cease to be secondary and become idolatrous. They have their place. But they are not first, and they are not guaranteed. Life is precarious, and even if it is long by human standards, it is short.” –John Piper, This Momentary Marriage
This quote has been on my mind since I read it for the first time about a month ago. Although Piper was speaking of marriage specifically, I see how this concept plays out in my life as a whole.
I like new chapters in life. New chapters come in all sizes, big and small. So when a new month rolls around, I get excited about this new (small) chapter, because it’s different than the day before.
It’s 10 AM on Monday morning, and I just finished my second cup of coffee. I smirked as I remembered this time a year ago, when I would have absolutely refused an offer to a cup.
Of course a year ago, I had not encountered the task of my junior year at CIU, and did not realize how much I would need the caffeine to get me through. With a full class load, a part time job, a student organization to lead, practicum hours to complete and a weekly Bible study to prepare for, I had my hands full. And thus, gave in.I love reading the Psalms for several reasons, one being how easy it is to relate to the emotions of the writers. A quick glance through the book reveals people experiencing the highest of highs, the lowest of lows, and a range of life situations in between.
As I read through Psalm 13 this morning, King David’s anguish was unmistakable. The first five sentences are a series of agonizing questions directed to the Lord. I don’t know the details of his circumstances, but based on David’s words, it seems like he’s in a challenging, painful season of life.