Huh....Wow....Yes. <---my thoughts exactly when I heard it.
Then I processed it. First I was a bit setback by the sudden end to his story. Kind of like when someone builds up something they want to tell you, and then halfway through their telling of it, they realize it has no point. (We all have that friend...and if we admit it, have all been that person. :)) But anyways, I had been so in-tune to what he was going to say; I turned up the radio and tuned-out the rest of the noise around me, just waiting to hear. And in just a few seconds, my anticipation turned into disappointment, and then..MIND BLOWN. The magnitude of the truth that was wrapped up in that very brief utterance was crazy. Maybe it was just me, but I just can't let go of that moment. You know what...praise Jesus.
And it resonated with me so much too, because, this man hadn't called with a profound thought he wanted to share with the world. He called just to share his story, to let others be comforted by the fact that someone else had faced a similar giant in their lives, and that they weren't alone and God was always with them.
And right in the middle of his thought process it hit him, and he laughed.
Like the instant relief on a hot day when you walk into an air-conditioned room....this guy had walked right into the joy of the Lord. And that joy was able to be shared with the thousands of people listening. What a beautiful moment! It wasn't what any of us were expecting to hear, but what I'm sure so many of us needed. I know I did.
My life at this moment has brought about joys and challenges I haven't faced before. I moved to Sacramento just about two months ago, I started school in Sac State's Speech and Language Pathology program, and I'm living with the parents of one of my good friends from APU, who also lives in Sac with her husband.
I am really liking the city of Sacramento..so many opportunities, but still nestled within Northern California (if I had any doubts about which half of California I liked better, Northern is now clearly the winner :)). I've been able to go home twice in the last two months, and I've seen my best friends that I normally don't get to see until Thanksgiving.
The family I'm living with is wonderful as well. They are fellow believers (pastors actually) with passionate hearts, and really are just good people that I enjoy spending time with.
I LOVE my classes. I have awesome professors, I'm learning so much, and I'm now studying and working within the field I will actually have a career in. And that is SUCH a good feeling. I've also made several friends in my program...which if you know me...that's a big deal. Talking to people I don't know, if this is my comfort zone ( ), lies right here * :) But they are great people and great study buddies, so I've been very blessed in that.
All that said...I never realized how challenging it would be moving here. Essentially starting over, but with the other pieces of my life still intact, which are now are being managed from far away. Every really close relationship I have, has now become long-distance. And I NEVER imagined it would be this hard. It wasn't until the first day of classes that I realized this was the first time I had ever started school not knowing anyone. And for someone who prefers to go anywhere new with at least one person I know...talk about scary. But that first week ended positively, and now we're 8 weeks in and my first semester is halfway done (Whoa).
It's really been hard though. I have to be so intentional about keeping in touch with my best friends, as they all are now in a different places all over California, and one all the way in Michigan. I miss having roommates...friends that are always there (whether they wanna be or not ;)). And although I get to go home more often (the short 2 1/2 hour drive is such a breeze! :)), I still feel the pull of wanting to be there all the time to hep my parents out with the business. I still do some work for them, and help them out whenever and however I can; but I talk to them and I hear of the stresses going on, and I just wish there was more I could do. But they continually reassure me that I'm where I need to be, and do their best to share the joys I've found here.
And now, every time I become overwhelmed or bummed out by these things, I try to remember....
You know what, praise Jesus.
Because He's here with me. Because there's a purpose for me here, and I'm in a good place with a good family and good friends. Because in the future, this will be just a short blimp on my life road map. And thanks to the guy on the radio who gently, humorously, and unknowingly, reminded me that wherever I am...it's good. Because God is good, His love never changes, and He never gives up on us.
He hates to see us walk through the storm, but loves to see how we allow the rain to soften the clay of our hearts, so He can reveal His desires for us and mold us into who we were created to be.
We've got to embrace the past, see the good in the present, and look forward to what the future holds. Seeing God's presence in all of it. Because it's there, sometimes we just have to step back, laugh a little, and remind ourselves...
You know what...praise Jesus. :)
♥ C
ps...Autumn is officially here! :D I woke up to the sound of rain this morning, and my heart was filled with oh so much JOY! We have some rosebushes outside, and I was able to take a few pictures of the raindrops on the roses. The perfect visual of transition from summer to fall---from one season to the next. Inexplicably BEAUTIFUL. I think that's kind of how God sees our lives....raindrops on roses. :)
