For Everything There is a Season

Here I sit at home almost one year since my trip to Alaska. It doesn't seem possible that it's been that long. Time is just flying by, and I wish that it would slow down just a little. However, I know that time will just pick up the pace. The older you get, the faster it goes.

Some of you may be wondering why I haven't posted before now. Honestly, it's because I don't feel like my life is that interesting. Sure there are funny little things that happen, and little blessings are sprinkled in everyday. Some not so great things happen too, and there are times that I complain. I share these things with close friends and family, but most other people wouldn't understand the significance of these events because they aren't up-to-date on all the events in my life. Besides, there are some things that should just be kept between family and friends. I will do a very quick summary for those that are curious. I just finished my Junior year at UNA, and I'm expecting to graduate next May. I've spent the year focused completely on school. (Believe it or not, Social Work is a very demanding major! I think I wrote more papers and did more projects this past semester than I did in four years of high school.) God taught me a lot about not stretching myself too thin during the school year. I still helped with the kids at FBC Florence, but I did limit the amount of events I participated in. You can't say "yes" to everything. However, when I limited my "going", God gave me opportunities to share my faith. I got to spend a lot of time talking to my roommate and answering her questions. Talk about an opportunity! God also taught (and still is teaching me) that I've got to let go of my future and give it to Him. With graduation within sight, it's driving me crazy to not have my next move planned out yet. He's given some guidance, but there are still lots of unanswered questions. I have to remind myself constantly that it's HIS plan and HIS timing that matters, not mine.

People have been asking me, "Where are you going this summer? What are you doing?" The answer: I'm going back to UNA to take summer classes. The classes will only last about a month so I will have time for other things as well. Hopefully I can fill that extra time with some volunteer work, job shadowing, and disaster relief. Don't get me wrong, I would have loved to have gone back to Alaska. I looked back at my pictures the other day, and I felt a physical ache of longing. I pray that last summer is not the only time I will ever spend in that beautiful place. But I have to remind myself once again: GOD'S PLAN, not mine! (Yes, the reminder is brought up often.)

So where does all of this leave me? It leaves me in a season of waiting. An "in the mean time" type of thing. Dr. Timothy George once preached a sermon about what to do "in the mean time." The bottom line of his message: Prepare. Use times of waiting for Bible Study and prayer. Serve God however you can RIGHT NOW. You don't have to travel to the other side of the world to do that. Sometimes all you have to do is pick up the phone, write a letter, or cross the street. It may be a small thing to you, but it may make a world of difference to somebody else. God will use whatever He wants, big or small.

It's hard to wait, but it's essential. Waiting gives us time to prepare for what's coming next. It gives us a chance to recover from whatever we've just completed. God knows that we need our rest. There's nothing wrong with taking a backseat for awhile. Besides, when we're waiting, other people are taking center stage. The work isn't all up to you, and you shouldn't take the lead role all the time.

So for now, I'll wait. I'll take the time to let God work on me. It's time to dive into Scripture and to let Him lead, Step By Step, to whatever He has planned for me next.