The Time of Your Life

By the time you read this post, I should be back in Oregon, getting ready to start a new semester at college as an English major - my senior year. With all the hullabaloo in my life right now in terms of transitioning and getting re-adjusted, I have yet another personal post for you. (But don't worry; I'm hoping to have some fun book reviews and such for you in weeks to come!)

For today, I don't have anything brilliant of my own to say. I'm sad to be leaving home, excited for and scared of what's to come, and ready to settle into a routine again. No matter whether you've gone through college (or are currently going through it) or not, our lives are full of change and uncertainty (from our perspective). But in light of eternity, we can rest in the certainty that God is in control and hope is real.

So here are some words of wisdom from others to encourage us today:

"It's been my experience that you can nearly always enjoy things if you make up your mind firmly that you will."
~ L.M. Montgomery (Anne of Green Gables; as found on Goodreads)

"But he'd learned long ago that a life lived without risks pretty much wasn't worth living. Life rewarded courage, even when that first step was taken neck-deep in fear."
~ Tamera Alexander (Within My Heart)

"It's the time of your life, so live it well."
~ Randy Newman ("The Time of Your Life" - song from A Bug's Life)

Remember: "To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven."
~ Ecclesiastes 3:1

(Song clip from YouTube.com.)

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On My Way

Sometimes we need some perspective.

Perhaps you are an unpublished author/writer like me. Or perhaps you are a college student like me, getting ready to head back to school - away from home.

I'm "on my way," but it's not easy. It's difficult to think about the work and wait ahead of me if I am ever to be published or have a career in the publishing industry. It's painful to think of leaving my family to complete my senior year of college. And it doesn't matter that this isn't the first time I've had to say "farewell." It's still really hard.

But even if I were to be published, or even when I finish school, my journey won't be over. Because in light of eternity, as a believer in Christ I'm constantly "on my way" until I reach my true home in heaven.

And yet, I'm grateful for this journey. There will be sad, lonely, and discouraging times. But there's so much I can learn "on my way." I have a chance to walk with God through His grace and experience life and love. How easy it is to forget what an amazing blessing life is! And when I realize that the ultimate destination is Home - well, what a wonderful, grand perspective that is!!

I realize this is more of a personal post. But I sincerely hope that in this personal post you might find something to personally encourage you, whether you are published or unpublished, happy or sad, far from home, or whatever state you are in right now.

May the following song from the movie Brother Bear and the verses from Philippians bring a smile to your face and help you seek hope for your heart:

"Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord....

Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus....

For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ."

~ Philippians 3:8a, 12-14, 20 ~

(Movie/song clip from YouTube.com.)

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