Once upon a starry night
I think I often experience God the same way I experience Stars. I didn't come to this conclusion on my own but I've thought about it a lot lately. It seems like the stars are much clearer on top of mountains. Surrounded my others who also notice that they appear brighter, appear to have a unique twinkle that's lost in the city lights, that's drowned out by the hustled pace of life away from mountaintops. You always know the stars are there but sometimes you just ignore them because there's so much going on that you forget to look up into the constant sky and see the ever present beauty. Or maybe you look up and the stars are covered by clouds. You acknowledge them and want to see them but there's something in the way, something blocking you from their awesomeness.
It's amazing how, especially in college, we let our faith take form in highs and lows. In a series of mountains and valleys where we have these amazing experiences and between them we just survive hanging on to memories of past experiences or future ones to get us over the valleys from peak to peak. I feel so close to God at Young life camps, on retreats, having quiet moments on backpacking trips. More than anything I feel so close to God at camp, sitting in the chapel with my brothers and sisters in Christ all around me, worshiping our creator. I feel so at peace in the wilderness and away from life. But even at school when I feel like life is all about surviving I have mini-peaks; RUF, bible studies or even the occasional uplifting conversation. Sometimes my vision gets clouded and my heart is just in other things making it hard to see God and to see the things Christ is doing in my life... And I hate it. I hate that I experience God sporadically. I wish I could pursue him with my whole heart always. I wish I lived my life to Glorify God through all my thoughts, words and actions. I wish my walk with Christ didn't feel like mountains and valleys but instead a steady walk up to heaven. I know I will experience a variety of good and bad emotions, but I wish I could constantly be founded in the Joy of Christ and build on that. I wish I experienced God how he is, always there. In the valleys he holds me up, he carries me, I wish I could see him better in those times. I long to embrace him every day, re-commit myself. It seems like I can not hear the same message too many times. I need be as committed as possible to reading his love letter, to building a relationship with christ, to glorifying God, to letting the Spirit and a community of believers help to be my strength so I can spread the good news of the gift of Grace. (wow that was a long sentence)
It's amazing how, especially in college, we let our faith take form in highs and lows. In a series of mountains and valleys where we have these amazing experiences and between them we just survive hanging on to memories of past experiences or future ones to get us over the valleys from peak to peak. I feel so close to God at Young life camps, on retreats, having quiet moments on backpacking trips. More than anything I feel so close to God at camp, sitting in the chapel with my brothers and sisters in Christ all around me, worshiping our creator. I feel so at peace in the wilderness and away from life. But even at school when I feel like life is all about surviving I have mini-peaks; RUF, bible studies or even the occasional uplifting conversation. Sometimes my vision gets clouded and my heart is just in other things making it hard to see God and to see the things Christ is doing in my life... And I hate it. I hate that I experience God sporadically. I wish I could pursue him with my whole heart always. I wish I lived my life to Glorify God through all my thoughts, words and actions. I wish my walk with Christ didn't feel like mountains and valleys but instead a steady walk up to heaven. I know I will experience a variety of good and bad emotions, but I wish I could constantly be founded in the Joy of Christ and build on that. I wish I experienced God how he is, always there. In the valleys he holds me up, he carries me, I wish I could see him better in those times. I long to embrace him every day, re-commit myself. It seems like I can not hear the same message too many times. I need be as committed as possible to reading his love letter, to building a relationship with christ, to glorifying God, to letting the Spirit and a community of believers help to be my strength so I can spread the good news of the gift of Grace. (wow that was a long sentence)