I've been in Bakersfield for five months now. Time seemed to be dragging when there was school but it's literally flying by me this year. A week now feels like maybe 3 days then weekend, 3 days then weekend. It has been on repeat since I've been here! I guess that's what happens when you float along & enjoy the ride with time instead of trying to grab onto it like it's a lifeline when drowning in a sea of busyness.
So since I've been gone (from school, from Colorado), I've:
-Read more books than I have in the past 4 years
*Did ANYONE read for recreation during school? If so, I'm sure it was sanity vs. textbook.
-Volunteered/served more than I have in the past 4 years
*There are so many events here through Tare's company and I just started volunteering as a helper in the children's ministry. Three-year-olds are so darn cute and I have filled the void of weirdness while I wasn't involved at church.
-Been healthier than I've ever been
*I am eating properly and preparing most of it myself, exercising regularly with both cardio and strength, feeling more energetic and definitely in the right state of mind with zero lapses or doubts.
-Met more people and gone to more "social" events than I have in the past 4 years
*I was a sort of hermit in college and unsure about it, a sort of hermit in grad school and sure about it, and then a sort of hermit coming here but having the chance to meet new people in a different atmosphere that makes me feel less anxious and actually enjoy myself. Honestly, I'm still wary of being very open personally with people but my attitude has changed and is still changing positively. I've met several of Tare's coworkers that are around our age and we are involved in a community group that is just a great group of people. Oh, and I think we go to every single event that goes in Bakersfield like every other person in this city because there's not much else to do!
-Been experiencing true married life*It's like a fresh start all over again and it's done so much good for our relationship. Cleaving is oh so totally necessary. :D
-Nurturing my creative side*The options I have of filling each day with whatever I want to make, see, read, plan is so freeing. My weathered cords of worrying and hurrying are unraveling into just a beautiful mess. Like I said, I'm floating along with time.
-Been fed satisfyingly by the Word of God*While it was great serving in the CM, missing out on the sermons was just not the best way to keep going and being refreshed for my own walk. There was no other way there, but at my new church there are several services so if I want to take a class or serve the CM, we can still get to worship and hear some teaching at another service. I love the emphasis on biblically based teaching at Riverlakes Community Church and the messages are a blessing to hear and be challenged by. Right now we are going through a series called "Rethink Truth" which examines what we believe, why, what is the truth, etc. on different topics such as God, Man, Ethics, Family, Government, etc.
http://www.riverlakeschurch.org/teaching/ There are video podcasts of the sermons if you're interested. The teaching pastor is very easy to listen to and he does a very good job.
-Been content*I have to admit that during college, I was unhappy because I was envious of other people. I wanted what other people had---not materialistic things, but relationships and what they had socially. Coveting is a sin and that sin brought me to the lowest point of my life. I didn't realize it then, but looking back it is so obvious and sad.
I count my blessings and give thanks often for what I have now and what I experienced then. It's how I met Jesus in the most intimate way and when I finally
got it, got that He loved me and I loved Him with everything and wanted Him in my life in every way.
I think it's weird that I feel weird writing about how joyful I am and that I want to praise God for all of it. It's because it's rare that someone joins in with equal happiness for someone else's happiness and they share it together for a special moment. It's because even though I have mostly Christian friends, I've never really heard them talk about God when they talk about their successes or shortcomings. Is faith such a personal thing? It shouldn't be, because where it starts being personal and stops being shared and lived out is where it is limited and maybe even nonexistant.
I'm convicted these days reading
Crazy Love (we are doing a study on it in our small group). We're on Ch. 5 now and if you've read it, you would know this is where it starts to get really ... personal? convicting? challenging? I mean, it's where Chan hits you in the stomach with the truth that isn't really declared these days with so much "love" and all in churches these days. It humbles me and makes me think hard about my life. Only God and I know where I stand and it's the most important thing in the world to consider---this is eternity we're talking about.
What really gets to me is what he says regarding the parable about the different kinds of soil. "Do not assume you are good soil." "Jesus' intention in this parable was to compare the only good soil to the ones that were not legitimate alternatives. To Him, there was one option for a true believer." Does that not change how you read and understand the parables? I wish I could share so much more of what Chan says in this book but then I would copying pages upon pages and I don't think that's quite legal or practical. I highly recommend this book--highly enough that I might even buy it for you to read if you refuse.
? What is this weirdness? 
