The older I get, the more life becomes about stages and less about discrete events. Even looking back, I tend to associate periods of my life with certain descriptive terms. Longing–the word of this stage/period in my life. Perhaps this is a little confusing, as I just got married and landed the internship of my dreams. However, this longing feels less for earthly things and more for the eternal.
Flashback to senior year of high school when communication with the Lord through prayer was the most consistent it’s ever been. Then to junior year of college when I couldn’t get enough of the Word each day. I find myself reflecting on these times of frequent communication with God and longing for that depth in our relationship again. As things pop up at work, home, and with family, I find myself more and more turning to Him for guidance and peace, but I still miss the consistency. Longing. Craving. Yearning.
Praise for His steadfast love. Thanks for His grace and forgiveness. Blessed by new mercies every day. In a world where longing for earthly things leads to loneliness, I’m grateful for a Lord who answers longing with love and wholeness.
While several Baylor updates have probably popped up in your newsfeed over the months, this one is perhaps the best. I hope that once you read it, you will agree with me.
Baylor University (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Gosh I thought I had posted my Baylor happenings more often, but since I haven’t there will be lots to include in this post.
1st. Housing:
I HAVE A PLACE TO LIVE IN WACO, TX. Praise! I will be living with two second-year students and another first-year student (like myself) in a house that we are renting together. Oh, and it’s fabulous! I absolutely hate carpet (allergies, asthma, and whatnot), and this house has ZERO square feet of carpet. Hallelujah! Yes, I get overly excited about floors. It has stained concrete floors, which are tons nicer than they sound. I have my own bedroom with a cute little nook by the window for my desk. Hooray for natural lighting in my workspace. It’s the little things that we have to get excited about, people. I’ll be sharing a bathroom with my fellow first-year, and perhaps next year when the second-years move out then we can move into the rooms with their own bathrooms. The kitchen is HUGE. Like I could probably put my pet elephant in there and he would have room to do a dance…if I had a pet elephant, that is.
2nd. Graduate Assistantship (GA):
First of all, the abbreviation GA for graduate assistantship confuses the mess out of me, seeing as my home state is also GA, for Georgia. I’ll use the abbreviation, however, and just pray you don’t get as confused as I do. Now to the good stuff! On May 9th (I remember the date because that was also the day my best friend got engaged and I took secret photos. See engagement photos.), I had a phone interview with the sweetest lady from Baylor’s Office of Academic Support Programs. Well, I’ll say that I anticipated an interview. What I received was a 20 minute phone call highlighting the details of the program and welcoming me on board. Needless to say, I got the GA position, which is, according to Dr. Robinson, a “coveted GA position.”
As an academic mentor I will work with at-risk students to monitor their academic progress and offer support and encouragement as they adjust to college life. I will work 20 hours a week, meeting with about 35-40 students weekly. I have my own office and a huge support team. I cannot even begin to say how encouraging my interview was. It got me even more excited for everything that is in store at Baylor.
3rd. Finances:
Well if that paragraph about my GA wasn’t enough of a blessing, the following week I received this email:
Tuition remission means I don’t have to pay for 24 hours of tuition this year. Considering I am only taking 24 hours of class per week this year, I’d say that’s the best financial offer I could have received.
I know that I’ve accomplished nothing on my own. I am truly in awe of how greatly God has blessed me. I could not have done this by myself, and I have not presumed to believe that I could. I know that I would have failed miserably without the Lord directing my paths and blessing me with wonderful family, friends, and instructors to also help me along the way. That’s why all of this goes back to Him. He is the true reason for every educational, financial, and emotional provision in my life. I know that He has given me these things in order that I use them to shine His light on this world.
I will say also that I am honestly amazed. I have spent too much of the past 2 years underestimating the things I can do with the help of God, my family, my professors, and my friends. I have been attacked by the enemy and been led to believe that I was once alone in all of this. I don’t mean to get super spiritual on you, but that’s the truth. I’m coming to realize that life is too short to waste time worrying about it, especially when you know that the Lord has a plan. I’m thankful for that.
The older I get, the more life becomes about stages and less about discrete events. Even looking back, I tend to associate periods of my life with certain descriptive terms. Longing–the word of this stage/period in my life. Perhaps this is a little confusing, as I just got married and landed the internship of my dreams. However, this longing feels less for earthly things and more for the eternal.
a thousand new paths 