Everything I Know About College I Learned from the Media

The past week have been more difficult than the previous here at school, but they've also been really good.

I knew I would struggle with the reality of this world and of free-thinkers who aren't nearly as respectful as they say or think they are. But one can only be so prepared...and still, you will always hit culture shock one day or another. This came in a much different manner than I was expecting, which has been a wonderful learning experience.

In high school, it seemed as if most everyone claimed Christianity, and maybe it was because it wasn't discussed as much, but that is definitely not the case here. Now I knew that, I wasn't naive enough to think that the south is full of Bible-believers.

The thing is though that in high school, everyone respected everyone else's values. Now it is likely that it's just because it's a small school, number 1, and number 2, Tyner has always sort of been the exception to the rule in that we are a family in many ways. But I've been surprised by the disrespect not of my religion, but of myself in general. I know this sounds stupid and sheltered, but I was sheltered.

For some reason, I had this apparently grandiose idea that college was this place of the exchange of ideas....well, turns out it's just the boasting of one's ideas...no matter how ridiculous or loud and obnoxious they are.

Therefore, so far I've been content to sit and listen as I try to figure out what each person is about (cause that's what I do, creep and analyze like that). That is, until recently when I've began to see that I just can't take it anymore. I have to speak up because I just get so darn frustrated. And then I have that feeling like I'm doing the same thing they are doing by boasting of all their marvelous ideas and philosophies. But I know that I'm called to speak truth as well. It's nearly a catch 22...more like a thin line that I'm praying to be defined.

But I love this experience. It's been hard, but I know that God is building endurance within my spirit. It's something He showed me this summer in ATL, I've shared this before. While trekking up Stone Mountain (one of the most strenuous things I've ever done, the straight up part is killer, especially when you're out of shape) and on the way down while meditating on different things, it finally "clicked" in my heart what the verses that talk about "finishing strong" and circumstances that "build endurance" mean: it's God way of building our muscles, spiritual strength training. So that when we face another obstacle that is similar and/or more difficult, we will have experience and will have learned valuable lessons that we must now choose to apply and therefore, grow even further in faith and trust and righteousness.

And I'm so thankful for God's perfect timing. Because I learned that lesson this summer, it is still fresh in my mind and I am able to apply it easier right here at school as I begin to face some of the most difficult situations I've ever faced before. It's not too strenuous yet, but I know that God is using these college years to form the basic shape of what He wants my future to look like, He is going to shave down the major bulges and all the excess clay from the (as of now) square block, so that when the time comes for me to leave and to serve overseas I will look much more similar to Him, my Jesus. :)

Isaiah 64:8 
"But now, O LORD, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand."

Romans 9:21
"Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use?"