"I just want to feel the taste of the meal, but not the routine of dining here."
I've wandered far from this journal of mine for quite a while, but now I plan to return to her. Life continues to progress and change, and I feel a newly invigorated need to trace that change. Also, I would like those of you who live far away (and those of you who I don't talk to much) to still be connected to me in some way, if you're interested.
Well, much has changed since my last post. I am still in Santa Maria, working at Starbucks, but I now attend Cal Poly in SLO. That has been a mixed blessing. I know it where am supposed to be at the moment, and I loved my first quarter, but this current quarter has been anything but enjoyable. Current state of things aside though, I will be done with my undergrad work in one year (I have 9 classes left!), so I am excited about that. Then it's some form of grad school for me the following year. I don't yet know where. I suppose I should start thinking about that more seriously. Hopefully I'll get to spend summer 07 traveling with Isaiah, Ben, and Caleb (half of the summer in Africa, half in Europe).
On a more current level, I am now teaching the Jr. High youth group at my church. It has been such a tremendous blessing! I cannot convey how much the Lord has used this group in my life, and we've only been meeting for about a month and a half. I'm constantly excited about what the Lord has for the Friday night group. We shall see...
Other stuff has changed as well, but if you know me well at all, you probably have at least heard about it.
So yes, life is abundantly wonderful and thoroughly difficult. I'm glad that I get to experience the difficult side of life along with the joyous side. The balance makes for a more balanced heart, I believe. So often people think poorly of you for experiencing pain, sadness, frustration, etc. (any "negative" human emotion), believing them to not be exemplary of a strong Christian connected to the heart of God. I disagree with this outlook, as I see the result of these emotions to be the important thing. One can feel intensely without sinning. And when we feel a range of emotions then manage to submit them to God, we become, I believe, more equipped and honest humans. The good or bad of the situation lies not in the emotion but in the action of the heart after the emotion is felt. I only state all of this to summarize this last year of my life: it has been emotional, passionate, up and down, and it continues; in all of it, I desire the actions of my heart to be honoring to God even while I feel the human emotions that come with living in the ever-strained framework of the human experience.
Anyway, that's it for now. I'm trying to live well, and I desperately appreciate the love of God, of my family, and of my friends. Love to you all...
-Luke Hawkins
Well, much has changed since my last post. I am still in Santa Maria, working at Starbucks, but I now attend Cal Poly in SLO. That has been a mixed blessing. I know it where am supposed to be at the moment, and I loved my first quarter, but this current quarter has been anything but enjoyable. Current state of things aside though, I will be done with my undergrad work in one year (I have 9 classes left!), so I am excited about that. Then it's some form of grad school for me the following year. I don't yet know where. I suppose I should start thinking about that more seriously. Hopefully I'll get to spend summer 07 traveling with Isaiah, Ben, and Caleb (half of the summer in Africa, half in Europe).
On a more current level, I am now teaching the Jr. High youth group at my church. It has been such a tremendous blessing! I cannot convey how much the Lord has used this group in my life, and we've only been meeting for about a month and a half. I'm constantly excited about what the Lord has for the Friday night group. We shall see...
Other stuff has changed as well, but if you know me well at all, you probably have at least heard about it.
So yes, life is abundantly wonderful and thoroughly difficult. I'm glad that I get to experience the difficult side of life along with the joyous side. The balance makes for a more balanced heart, I believe. So often people think poorly of you for experiencing pain, sadness, frustration, etc. (any "negative" human emotion), believing them to not be exemplary of a strong Christian connected to the heart of God. I disagree with this outlook, as I see the result of these emotions to be the important thing. One can feel intensely without sinning. And when we feel a range of emotions then manage to submit them to God, we become, I believe, more equipped and honest humans. The good or bad of the situation lies not in the emotion but in the action of the heart after the emotion is felt. I only state all of this to summarize this last year of my life: it has been emotional, passionate, up and down, and it continues; in all of it, I desire the actions of my heart to be honoring to God even while I feel the human emotions that come with living in the ever-strained framework of the human experience.
Anyway, that's it for now. I'm trying to live well, and I desperately appreciate the love of God, of my family, and of my friends. Love to you all...
-Luke Hawkins