New Blog Goal and Things I'm Learning #1

I think that people see life in a lot of different ways and that shapes how they go about everything they do. Being sort of pre-disposed to be a teacher, life as a learning process really resonates with me and definitely shapes the way I approach every situation. It just so happens that I am at a stage in my life where I am learning a lot. 

And naturally I find the need to blog about it. 

The college part teaches me the things I will need to know to pursue my career goals. Those things have their own challenges, but they tend to be easier to learn.  Do enough calculus problems and you master calculus. Read and study biology or sociology enough and you will master the concepts of biology and sociology. They are easy to assess. You either do well on the tests or you don't. 

Then there's the life part. Life with my roommates. Life with my long distance boyfriend. Life with new friends and acquaintances. Life with my old friends and family. Life on my own. Life with Jesus. 

The lessons college is teaching me are important. Necessary even, to me.

But the life lessons that I am being taught are infinitely more important. I'd go so far to say that they are the most important ones I am learning. And of course, they are the hardest. 

So, I am giving this blog a new goal. If all goes as planned, I will start using this blog to document  what God is teaching me on a week by week basis. Every Sunday night there will be a little blurb about what I'm learning. It has to be at least a paragraph. And it has to be honest. Those are my conditions. 

So for this week, the buzzword is patience. It just seems like every time I turn around, God is saying "be still." As a result I'm learning to rely on God day by day. Each day it's like, "alright God. Here's *insert conflict or issue*. It's yours today, do what you will." And each day I wait. Some days I get nothing and end up frustrated. Other days, I get a glimpse at what I'm waiting for and those days are the best. It's like seeing a little light shine through. In the evenings though, no matter what type of day I've had, I try to focus on being thankful for what I actually have. I have life. I have people who love me. And I have Christ who brings me peace as I daily give Him my life and everything that goes along with it. That peace... It is the only thing holding me together some days. I wonder how people ever get along without it.

On another note, can I just say that going to church alone has been a really interesting experience? Overall, it's been a truly incredible. A) Because the church I have been attending has left me feeling totally refreshed and empty and fulfilled week by week. And B) I've discovered that there is this weird freedom that comes with being alone. It's scary at first, because there are no familiar faces. Not a single one. (Until today when I saw my calculus teacher...which was awesome in the weirdest, nerdiest way.) But ultimately the faces don't have to be familiar because there is this recognition that that's really not the point of all of this. It blows my mind every week that I can look around at a group of complete and utter strangers and feel at home, and, in the most literal sense of the word, be with family. That's a little crazy.

Anyway. That's what I've been up to. Calculus class should be interesting from now on. ;)

Peace to all,

Paula