journey - a picture of God's faithfulness

Today was the first day of my Senior year at ASU and it still blows my mind to say that.  Like, wow, I graduated from high school almost four years ago and I only have one more year before I finish my undergraduate degree.  The idea that time flies seems more true than ever.

First day of classes freshman year versus first day of classes senior year...craziness

I kicked off my senior year in a fitting way, writing in my journal and relaxing in the campus coffee shop during my long break in between my 9:30am and 2:00pm classes.  A new year starting has made me think about the journey that has brought me here, and how that story is still being written.  Who I am starting out classes today is a completely different person than the one who started classes my freshman year.  And I am basking in the glory of God's faithfulness throughout my college experience thus far.

I came to ASU as a mathematics secondary education major, and after a few changes, I am now an exercise science strength and conditioning major.  I am still not entirely sure what that will look like after graduation, but for now I am just embracing each day and letting the rest take care of itself.  God has opened my eyes to the unique passions he has placed in my heart, and I cannot wait to see how He will use those to His glory.

Even with this start to a new year, God is transforming me and changing my heart, drawing me in closer to Him.  I am realizing in a new light that this recreation is not somehow an implication that who I am now is lacking in anything.  Rather, it is a reminder that there is always space for me to grow into more of the person I was created to be and who God dreams I might be.  It calls me to remember that the Lord is faithful and cares for me more than I will ever know or fully understand - that He will constantly create and form a new and beautiful thing in me.  Not because there is something flawed about who I am now, but because who I can be in Christ is an invitation to experience more of the full life I was created for.  I am holding on to God's promise that greater things are yet to come.

I have a lot of goals and dreams for my senior year, so I figured I would share a few...for encouragement, accountability, and hopefully a personal reminder to never stop pursuing them.

• Do something fun every day - college, and life in general, is supposed to be enjoyed.  I don't want to let my life become stale and rigid - I want my days to be a celebration of God's new blessings!
• Invest in community and seek out relationships that are encouraging, challenging, and authentic
• Don't let fear stop me from trying new things or stepping out of my comfort zone
• Take opportunities that scare me and stretch my faith because they will help me grow
• Discover what I have to say rather than trying to figure out what I think people want to hear - my voice is unique and something I have to offer that no one else could bring
• Embrace the moment - living in the past or future robs the present of some of its potential
• Don't be afraid to admit that I need help, or that I am stressed, or excited, or frustrated, or overjoyed, or any combination of emotions.  I want to remember that life is communal and share my burdens and carry them with those around me.
• Be okay with being in progress - God's loves us in the journey, not just the destination.  It is okay for me to not understand things and be confused or still be unsure of how I feel.  I want to embrace the path that takes me closer to God's heart and closer to who I am created to be.
• Take time to rest - there will always be things that I could be actively doing, but sometimes just being and resting in the Lord is far more important than any item on my to-do list
• Pursue vulnerability, don't run from it - it is hard, but healing happens when grace meets our fears and imperfections
• Treasure every minute because before I know it, senior year will be over, and another chapter of life will be starting

This is not finished, but I think it is a great start to my list of goals for senior year and beyond.  Here's to the journey that has brought me here and the one that is perpetually drawing me closer to God's heart.  Not because I am lacking in anything, but because God is faithful to never stop recreating, restoring, and making something new out of me.  I am the clay and He is the Potter.