I am. so. excited. for next year. I think this is the most excited I have been in six months or so.
PCF leadership placements are done and next year's leaders have been notified. I will be the staff liason for the Justice Team and will be co-leading small group with Nathan H in the John Ballantyne-Carter Halls (JBC)!
As I was walking home from work today, I realized something that made me want to stop and laugh in awe of God's timing: In a way, my life has just come full circle. I lived in JBC my freshman year, and it was in the weekly small groups in Carter lounge where I first did manuscript-style scripture and listened to direct applications that the book of John had for my life. At the tail end of that first semester, a few underclassmen and I were invited to join the Justice Team, which was my first experience in leadership.
Four year laters, so much has changed. Justice Team is no longer characterized by pipe-cleaner-J's on glasses, making weekly World Minute announcements. JBC still has pre-health majors but now often splits into two small studies in the John B basement because of the high attendance.
And then there's me. No longer the eager but hesitant freshman, slowly testing her confidence. No longer wide-eyed and surprised that God cares about the oppressed. Four years later of stories, experiences, lessons, pains, and joy. Four years of students and relationships and trust in God's faithfulness.
In a beautiful way, I feel like God is bringing me back to these places I began, saying, "Look how far I've brought you since."
I think of Peter and the disciples at the end of the book of John. After Jesus' death, resurrection, and reappearance, they return back to their original lives as fishermen as if they don't know what to do with themselves. But Jesus doesn't let them stay there. He finds them again where they had started, but then he launches them into a new phase of following him.
And in this excitement of a new crop of student leaders choosing risks, taking a challenge, and finding something new, I smile. In a way I've come back to where I started, but so much has changed and so much is still to come.
In the words of my good friend and sister Sam, "You're going back to where you used to be. And, well, none of that has changed. So it has to be you!"
PCF leadership placements are done and next year's leaders have been notified. I will be the staff liason for the Justice Team and will be co-leading small group with Nathan H in the John Ballantyne-Carter Halls (JBC)!
As I was walking home from work today, I realized something that made me want to stop and laugh in awe of God's timing: In a way, my life has just come full circle. I lived in JBC my freshman year, and it was in the weekly small groups in Carter lounge where I first did manuscript-style scripture and listened to direct applications that the book of John had for my life. At the tail end of that first semester, a few underclassmen and I were invited to join the Justice Team, which was my first experience in leadership.
Four year laters, so much has changed. Justice Team is no longer characterized by pipe-cleaner-J's on glasses, making weekly World Minute announcements. JBC still has pre-health majors but now often splits into two small studies in the John B basement because of the high attendance.
And then there's me. No longer the eager but hesitant freshman, slowly testing her confidence. No longer wide-eyed and surprised that God cares about the oppressed. Four years later of stories, experiences, lessons, pains, and joy. Four years of students and relationships and trust in God's faithfulness.
In a beautiful way, I feel like God is bringing me back to these places I began, saying, "Look how far I've brought you since."
I think of Peter and the disciples at the end of the book of John. After Jesus' death, resurrection, and reappearance, they return back to their original lives as fishermen as if they don't know what to do with themselves. But Jesus doesn't let them stay there. He finds them again where they had started, but then he launches them into a new phase of following him.
And in this excitement of a new crop of student leaders choosing risks, taking a challenge, and finding something new, I smile. In a way I've come back to where I started, but so much has changed and so much is still to come.
In the words of my good friend and sister Sam, "You're going back to where you used to be. And, well, none of that has changed. So it has to be you!"
For the record I am thrilled that you have started blogging again(thought sad that it's not photo-based yet... but knowing you it won't take long :P)! I read through all your entries the same evening I got your email...
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