GROWTH

This is a letter I wrote on my blog about future possibilities to my family and friends...
It should first be noted that I am still very uncertain of my plans for the future. I welcome your insight, thoughts, prayers and suggestions as "the real world" is uncharted territory for me, but at the same time I ask for your support and continued positive guidance when I reach my final decision :)

As many of you know, the past 3 and a half years have been an incredible experience for me. I have grown in so many ways, many of which were completely unexpected. Through my academic, extra-curricular, relational and spiritual journey this is what I have discovered....

Academically, I have been pushed past my limits. I have been challenged to think critically about many issues facing our world, and have been exposed to the multi-faceted approach of a liberal arts education. In particular, my management major has equipped me with the knowledge, skills and abilities to succeed in a variety of business fields. I am confident that I could pursue-- and succeed in-- a career in marketing, HR, PR, or general management.

Extra-Curriculars. It should be stated that I have a tendancy to overextend myself. To better visualize the things I have been involved with while at Hope, take a peak at my resume, that will be attached. Overextended or not, many of these experiences have been instrumental in shaping the person I have become. Whether it be through relationships or lessons learned, I would not choose to trade in any of the hours upon hours devoted to organizations for another hour of sleep, studying or cleaning. The importance of exploring opportunities throughout campus and in the community have helped me define my skill set and what is important to me. I have also gained the opportunity to experience many things that would not be possible without them. The biggest example of this was being able to go to Rwanda for two weeks all expenses paid, hard work and dedication pay off!

Relationships!!!!! This is my favorite one. I have been blessed with great friends and a wonderful sorority that have been instrumental to my time here at Hope. They keep my grounded, they challenge me and are always up for a great time or a late night heart to heart. They have also not always been rosey, which has taught me humility, forgiveness and the importance of being vulnerable. Many of you have asked about relationships with boys, there have been quite a few close calls, but thankfully none of them have worked out. I have truly not found someone here at Hope, and although it is hard sometimes, I really think that this has been for the best. If you want to know more about this... just ask, but I don't want to spend too much time on that! Regardless of the lack of a romantic relationship, I have discovered the importance of living in community with one another and of finding those people who you can truly call your best friends.

Spirituality... This is a big one. The choice to come to a Christian college (especially Hope) has to be the best decision I have ever made. The campus ministries program does a phenomenal job of encouraging Hope students to explore their faith, without pushing anything on them. Our Chapel program is a testitmant to that... 1,200 students at every chapel (three times) a week, completely voluntarily!!! We also address the idea of a Christian perspective in every class and it is completely intertwined in everyone of my leadership classes. In addition, my friends have been a huge proponent to my faith journey. We often have in depth discussions tackling the hard questions and things we struggle with. I have recently joined a small group, diving into the Word, and I am VERY excited to see how this will help me along. I know I have a long ways to go in my faith journey, but am full of joy that it has a firm foundation in HOPE.

I am writing this instead of attending to the INCREDIBLE amount of things I have to get done this week. So this will be all for my first post. I will update later with more information as I get it!

Thoughts to ponder

LOVE.

What does it mean?

What does it mean to live a life of love?

How does that look

Risk uncertainty... find out information to minimize risk... need to communicate... need to define...in turn they are safe

human beings like to form expectations and predictions... so they can predict behavior... its about safety...

Is safety what we strive for? It makes sense, yes. It minimizes the possibility for hurt.... but does it also minimize something else? The X factor... maybe spontaneity, fun, the wild side of life? We can't control everything, should we try to control anything? Is defining, predicting, expecting another way we try to excercise power over relationships... to try to take control over our own lives... to not let God lead?

Power. This is a funny thing I have come to realize... is any power good power? The ability to have influence. Influence. Why does this sound negative? It kind of goes straight to free will, is influence effecting another persons free will ... is that what makes it bad? I kind of think yes. Why should I (or anyone) affect another persons free will. Hmmmmmmmm I don't know.

What about me? How do I ever know God's will and how can i suceed my power to him, let go, give him control, follow and not lead?

Small Group Book- ""For us to discern God's purpose, we must be convinced that what God wills for us is the best thing that could possibly happen to us under any circumstance; we must remember that agape love is our primary calling; and we must be certain that the Holy Spirit will help us know God's will in any situation, revealed to us as we need it and as we are able to respond"


How cool is that? the best thing that could possibly happen... that is pretty POWERfull... interesting play on words. Anyways, if God's will is the BEST then why would we ever want anything different? Living a life of love... "God's purpose is always agape love-- not the fulfillment of our perceived needs at the expense of others, but the fulfillment of others' truest needs despite the cost to us." How do I live like this? In a world so focused on the individual, in a world focused on success, power, money... this is the ultimate challenge.... To live a life of life! How does this manifest itself in my life? How can it be applied?

Don’t be so afraid of getting your heart broken, making a wrong choice, or failing at something you love. Pain avoidance is no way to live, and God does some of his best work when we’ve made a mess of everything.