differences

Last night a group of friends and I were watching the show So You Think You Can Dance, it's my favorite show. I know not everyone enjoys shows like this, and that's totally fine, actually that's part of the basis of this post. But this show in particular is one of very few shows I make a point to sit and watch every week if I am at home.

I was sitting in a room full of about fifteen or twenty people and as soon as the intro music began to play on the T.V. the volume in the room went up and everyone began discussing who they wanted to stay and who had the best technique, so on and so forth. I, too, have my own opinions and thoughts about each dancer. Dance was my outlet from reality throughout most of my life and my appreciation for dance is close to my heart. Back to my point...VERY soon into our discussion of our different favorites and dance styles many people in the room became defensive and seemingly appalled that other people didn't agree 100% with what they thought was best. And in the midst of the chaos I found myself retracted into my own thoughts about how a simple difference in opinion sparked so much emotion in people.

Praise the Lord that we are all created differently and uniquely. I think that we all enjoy and appreciate different things for a reason, I just wish we could learn to embrace each others differences. If the energy we spent trying to convince someone we were right, or our opinion was better, was spent discovering why someone may have a different opinion or thought than us- this world would be a radically different place. I can't begin to fathom the response to love and truth that could take place.

I understand this thought sparked from a simple t.v. show, and that sometimes there are times when fighting for what is right is just- in the case of truth and true life. I understand that, please don't miss what I'm trying to say.

My point is that I am challenged by my experience last night to embrace the different passions and interests and opinions of my friends with a different attitude, I hope you will too.

There is a world full of beautifully diverse people. Embrace them.

This is one of my favorite pieces from SYTYCD:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APHSYKqv4sE

Africa

$7 in Africa will :

Feed: one person for a month

Educate : 2 children for 1 school term

Save: one person's life from malaria

Provide: clean water to Africans for a year

We can be a small part in the restoration of a continent that is in need of so much love and help.

https://www.mochaclub.org/mochaclub/welcome

My little brother : My heartbeat

My little brother and I have always been close, but as we get older I have grown to appreciate him more and more. I love having conversations with him about his heart and have the chance to walk through life with him by my side. We have cried and laughed together more times than I can count. He helps to keep me strong and think rationally so much of the time. He is absolutely irreplaceable to me. Zach has one of the biggest hearts of anyone I've ever met and is constantly making people smile. He loves people without hesitation and makes you feel like you are the most important person in the world when you talk to him.I am so incredibly proud to call him my brother and it has been an amazing experience this summer to watch the Lord mold him into a great man of God.

I've never wanted more for someone in my whole life than with I do for him. I truly hope and pray that he finds joy and true happiness in his life. That he pursues his dreams whole-heartedly and unashamed. He has dreams of playing in the NHL one day and I am fully convinced he will. He is an extremely talented hockey player with the most humble heart of anyone who shares the ice with him. He praises God for his abilities and has been sorting out what it looks like for him to be a man of God in the hockey environment, an environment which is highly competitive and self-seeking most of the time.

He is my heartbeat and is truly the best brother anyone could ever ask for, if you want to debate about it that's fine- but I'll still win.

Zach if you ever read this, thank you for loving me uncontionally. The Lord uses you to bless my heart day in and day out. I love you so much buddy.

senior year.

I can't believe that it's already my senior year here at Auburn. Today I had a conversation with a friend about graduation and how exciting it will be when we are done with school and classes. I have to say that I agree to an extent, I'm overwhelmingly excited about being able to have an actual occupation and work with people and not be in a classroom everyday. But right now I want to soak up every minute I have in Auburn. I want to enjoy writing every paper (I'll probably want to retract that statement later), I want to enjoy walking to class everyday, I want to enjoy the volume of Jordan-Hare stadium, I want to cheer louder than I ever have for a great friend who plays center, I want to enjoy watching some of my best friends get married, I want to learn new things about my family, I want to soak up every opportunity I have here at Auburn to make an impact. I'm so tired of wasting days. Auburn has been extremely different that I thought it would be when I came back. Since early July, I have felt incapable of getting a grasp on my life here. I have felt like everyday was another challenge and whenever I would recover- everything turned upside down, but today was absolutely amazing. I can't explain it and I don't really know why but today has been one of my favorite days I've had in Auburn this summer. I haven't done anything particularly exciting or out of the ordinary, but I feel so refreshed today. I can only accredit that to the love of Jesus- He has just given me a fresh joy and peace about my life here.

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times & in every way...

2 Thess. 3:16

I woke late this morning and began to study for my test and then took one of my roommates to her car before class. I was not at all worried about said test because I really enjoy this particular class (Child Development in the Family) and felt prepared- well in glorious fashion I managed to make a 70 on my test. Usually making a C on a test would have, and has, ruined my day and sometimes my week. But today I had a strangely positive attitude about it. Not that I don't care about my grades, I really do, but I recognized today that a test grade was not worthy of stealing my joy. Simple thought I know, but for some reason that simple truth hit home. After I made that beautiful C on my test I went home and cleaned my apartment then began to paint. I am really excited about some ideas that the Lord has given me for a couple of paintings that I'm about to attempt. I'll post some pictures if my hands can transfer the vision from my brain onto a canvas!

Currently I'm writing this post from my favorite coffee shop, drinking my favorite drink - Vanilla Chai- and enjoying the great freedom my schedule allows me this summer to be able to sit at a coffee shop for hours on end and read and study. Today was a beautiful day. Enjoy the day. Soak up the moments. Drink Vanilla Chai. Let the peace of Jesus fill you up- it's incomparable.

the beginning:

Some sat in darkness and the deepest gloom,

prisoners suffering in iron chains, for they had rebelled against the words of God

and despised the counsel of the Most High. So he subjected them to bitter labor;

they stumbled, and there was no one to help. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,

and he saved them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness and the deepest gloom

and broke away their chains. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love

and his wonderful deeds for men, for he breaks down gates of bronze and cuts through bars of iron.

.Psalm 107:10-15

freedom. sustaining love. indescribable joy. this group of verses has taught my heart more than i could ever begin to articulate or express. i feel as though we live in a world where people are held captive by things that were once meant to bring them joy. the weight of captivity not only effects the prisoner, but the world in which they abide. we have got to wake up and see the desperation of those around us, people who need freedom, hope and love. be a light in a dark place. love when it's not convenient for you. listen. speak truth and hope into darkness. for there is hope for the captives. be a light.