In Which I go to College and Mature...

A child leaves home for college and suddenly they are no longer a child but have blossomed into a adult. Well maybe not always...
Yes college does mature a teenager, but it also gives them freedom to do things that weren't allowed under their parent's supervision.

Take for instance one Sunday night. A few of us were gathered around the table nourishing ourselves on leftovers. A bowl of finger jello accompanied the meal. Before my very horrified eyes I watched as one of the boys proceeded to slurp the whole piece of jello into his month. He wasn't finished though, he slide the Jiggular right back out! Everyone was highly amused by the shocked look on my face. Surely I thought I was dreaming when of my female friends did the very same thing! Sheepishly announcing "we never got finger jello at home"!

Slurping however soon became dull, and the Olympics of food began. Yes, these college students were spitting their jello across the table with a very violent force. Head were ducking up in down to avoid being painted with gelled artificial coloring and flavor.

So the secret is out, college may mature a person but it may immature them anymore. You are probably wondering did I try? Don't ask silly questions, I would never be so unlady like under normal circumstances:)

Sneaky Seniors...or Maybe Not

Thursday found Chapel rather empty and far too quiet. The seniors had gone off on their annual senior sneak.
Their objective was to disappear and not be noticed until they had fled campus. However the whole thing was photographed by even sneakier Juniors:)

Apparently the seniors decided since they hadn't gone out with a bang they would come back with one. Oh and did they ever.

4:30 am I'm sleeping quite peacefully and resting up from the weekend. Abruptly my slumber is disturbed by the phone ringing. Dearest roommate leaped from her warm bed to take the call. Just a friendly notice from a senior announcing they were back. How thoughtful of them.

They needn't have called for very quickly and efficiently two senior guys managed to wake the whole campus; by driving around in circles and blaring their horns very repetitiously. Needless to say the entire school didn't get more than 5 hours of sleep, if not less.

I do dare say those seniors indirectly blessed us with a lesson of practicing a cheerful attitude when one feels just the opposite.

Oh my I will miss those crazy seniors next year.

Saturday Life

Saturday on a college campus means...
Very quiet, students are either sleeping or have escaped from the compound, er I mean campus, to the free world.
Homemade breakfasts, omelets to order, homemade biscuits, fresh baked cinnamon rolls. The Vice President of the school has more talents than just teaching.
Homework perhaps, by the end of the day one feels very guilty for not doing a thing. Or there is a smug feeling of having accomplished much while everyone else was relaxing.
Leftovers in the fridge, some things you a very happy to see again. Other things not so much, like a reappearing nightmare.
Fellowship, by evening there is no longer an obligation to do homework and the fun begins. A movie or two, a game of Sardines in the darkened Admin, or a random library game.

Saterday for me today means fresh clean sheets and the hope of finishing my last paper.

52 Days Left in SD

I miss...
Talking with my mom
Smoothies
Home baked bread
Shopping
Sleeping in
Laughing children
My church family
Walks on the farm...never again...

I will miss...
Teachers, constant wisdom surrounding you is so rich.
Friends who can instantly tell something is wrong
Random adventures, you never know what will happen on a college campus
My roommate, how could I have been so blessed to have such amazing girl for a sister this past year?

I hope I won't miss...
Growing in my relationship with God. Very soon I'll be left to study the Bible on my own will. Oh I shudder to think I may neglect it. Certainly not I pray, without application this past months will surely have been in vain. But it was not I who did the work, nor is it I who will finish.

being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ:
Phil 1:6

A Life Hidden in Christ

Today I got a phone call. One of those calls that makes a person wish they had never picked up the phone. Yet as it has been for many decades, the deliverance of news already happened is unavoidable.

I cried when I heard that a very dear friend of mine was in glory. Tears fell just as they had when I heard he was dying of an incurable brain tumor. A fight with cancer over as soon as it had begun, leaving on the battle field a mourning wife, four children and their spouses, a host of grandchildren, one great grandchild and a church congregation with a gaping hole.

Mr. B. was my Sunday School teacher-- every lesson was taught with enthusiasm. More than likely Mr. B. enjoyed teaching even more than he did learning. Pouring over the scriptures and then receiving extra information from accompanying maps was not something the teacher shied away from.

Teaching Sunday school was not Mr. B’s only service to our tiny country church. I remember the sad Sunday when Mr. B. was no longer the song leader. The worship service still feels somewhat incomplete.

Mr. B. helped build our church. Later he served on the building committee, making plans to accommodate our ever growing congregation. Sadly the many hours of plans being made by Mr. B. will never bear the fruit of work by his hand. I don't think he will miss seeing the new church, seeing as now he is living in a mighty fine mansion over the hilltop.

I'll never forget the Sunday morning Mr. B. told the church that his unsaved family member had been saved. Mr. B. couldn't hardly retell the events for his voice was too full of emotion. His face was wet with tears. Sharing a prayer request about an unsaved relative or friend from Mr. B.’s lips was not uncommon. His heart was tender towards those who had not yet found their Savior. Very soon someday the two relations will be together in heaven because of Mr. B.’s witness.

Hardly uncommon at is it to hear people remark how they will miss a loved one’s smile. Cliche as it may sound, I have to say I will miss Mr. B.’s smile. The great works done by Mr. B. characterized him yet it was the warm smile and the genuine interest in your life that truly showed off his love for the Lord Jesus Christ. Words of affirmation often were given, special music will never receive the same praise again without Mr. B.’s "amen".

In a small church you associate more the body of Christ than with your own family. Mr. B. was a grandpa figure to me. I hardly knew my own grandpas- both died before I could reap lessons from their rich character. I feel honored and blessed I could know Mr. B. . Praise to the Father above that one day I will worship with Mr. B. together at our Lord’s feet. Thinking of this fills my heart with joy.

Now I'm sad. In a few short weeks I will be home from college and worshiping at my home church once again. An empty spot in a pew will be unbearably void, a seat used so often it might have remained warm from Sunday to Sunday. I can't bear to think of not seeing the fa miler smile nor hear the taken for granted "amens". a loved parishioner is gone, leaving behind an awful ache in our church family. One thing is certain Mr. B. would be the first to tell us to dry our tears for if we have believed we are heading to a place of no tears.

Mr. B. I'll miss you terribly. I just want you to know one thing. Reflecting on your life has drawn me to one conclusion--looking at your works does not extoll yourself but instead brings glory and honor to Christ our risen Savior.

¹ If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. ² Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. ³For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. ⁴When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Col 3:1-4