disasters.

It’s hard to see what’s going on around the world and not react; some reaction is obviously felt. Whether you feel anger towards the stupid people making stupid decisions, or you feel compassion for the hurting people of the world, you have a reaction to the world around you. Being the optimist I am, I tend to feel compassion for people. I want to reach out and help everyone, but currently I have $6 in my checking account. So I sit and think, “How will my $6 do much of anything?” Its not the money that I have in my possession that is going to help people, it’s the love in my heart for a God who can work miracles. I know that through prayer and sacrifice of what little I have, God will show up and deal out like he always does. I cannot give up on my end if I expect God to hold out on his end. I know that God doesn’t do the whole bargaining thing, but there are two sides to the equation, and they have to be balanced. We cannot expect a life-long commitment from God if we aren’t willing to do the same.

But, I digress. God is the answer to troubling times. People, however, often ask God where He is when bad things happen and when disaster strikes, but God is asking us the very same question…

learning. growing. changing.

I’ve been going through a lot of learning experiences lately. I just started back to school on Monday, and that is ALWAYS a learning experience. Not only in the classroom, but in the study rooms with friends learning about their lives, in the bookstore learning that it is the worst place on earth, parking and learning where you can park at any given time of day, and walking around campus learning about different people and different clubs. I am also learning daily about youth ministry. Last night I ran my first night of theme nights. Kelly was supposed to be out of town, so I planned everything. He ended up coming back early enough, but still let me stay in charge. It was fun to get to be youth pastor, if only for a day. I am really getting a feel for what it takes, and I love my pseudo internship. =)

I have also been learning a lot about friends. I’ve learned which ones I can talk to about anything, which ones I have to give limited access to, and which ones I’m going to have to start denying most of the time. It’s always hard to see a friend go, but I am trying to be nice to everyone and only spend time with the people who I feel are helping me achieve my goals in this thing we call life. I’ve also learned that there are some friends worth fighting with, and fighting for because they bring so much value to your daily experiences. I love all my friends, and I am so happy for the people God saw fit to put into my life.

I am learning, also, from reading some other blogs. If you have yet to check out the list of blogs I read daily, you should. These people’s insight into the world around them is yet another thing that helps to push me forward in my walk. Seeing their struggles, their dreams, their lives unfold on the page gives me comfort in knowing that I am not the only one. I also have become very supportive of two particular non-profits. If you don’t know anything about Invisible Children or To Write Love On Her Arms you should check out their websites. Both are completely different, but equally worthy causes. God has given me a heart of compassion, one that breaks for hurting youth of the world.

My challenge to you is to listen inward. See what God is breaking your heart for, and go after it. When you are in the place God wants you to be, you will be the happiest you can be in this short life we spend here on the planet Earth…promise.