Through The Mire

First Week Thoughts | January 15, 2012

There have been a lot of things that have happened in the last week. I moved into a dorm for the first time in ten years. I started college for the first time in ten years.

I also have a curfew for the first time EVER in my life…but I digress

Over all it has actually been less awkward than I expected. Reading all the rules and regulations I had to adhere to made me wonder if I was going to get kicked out on the first day. However, the more people I met the more I saw that I wasn’t the only one who had crazy-hair tendencies and gauged ears. In fact, several gals on my floor have tattoos that they keep hidden during class times. I don’t feel like the weirdo which was a huge sigh of relief!

I also, by God’s grace am on a floor with gals who love to knit, crochet and be generally crafty. I’m really excited about that! Not that any of us will have time for such endeavors come a few weeks from now.

In all honesty, this will be my hardest semester of all time. Moody expects a lot from their students which is refreshing and also personally challenging as I’m not a great student. My goal is not to get out of here with a 4.0 or even a 3.5 but to come out knowing more about who Jesus is and actually REMEMBERING the information I’m learning day to day. I’m encouraged by the fact that a lot of my classes are overlapping a bit as far as material I’m learning and some classes are even filling the gaps a bit. I’m also encouraged by the fact that I’ve gotten some assignments done early and that even though I don’t have all my books yet there have been some gals who have offered to loan me some until everything comes in.

I’m still looking for a job, so please pray for that (those of you who are praying for me) so I can stay and pray that I would continue to be vulnerable under times of stress. I have my own room (which I’m seeing as a blessing) but it also leaves a ton of room for isolation. Pray that I would be eager to get plugged into a church here. I’m confident that The Painted Door is that place but I don’t want to fall into past sin where I just filled in where needed instead of where God wants me. I’m also praying even now about summer housing. I’d like to stay over the summer even (sorry friends and family!). I want to be invested here while God has me in Chicago. I don’t want to be the typical college student that floats around all over the place. I’m here to love the City as Christ does and it’s hard to do when you move around every 6 months.  Also pray that I would continue to treasure my time with God. Pray I would be able to take time out of my studies each day to devote personal time of study, reflection and prayer. I don’t want to loose sight of the reason I’m here.

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