Be Still

I'm sitting here with a hot cup of my favorite tea with my voice practically gone and a cold thriving in my head. Although not seemingly an ideal situation, a friend pointed out to me today that I get a chance to listen more than I'm used to, such to appreciate the beauty of being quiet.

With the craziness that my life brings, it's not often I do sit down to listen and reflect. But there have been many times so far this semester where I'm learning to appreciate solitude and to listen to what my body/heart tells me. So far this year, many things have already happened. I feel that time flies faster than I can keep up with sometimes. My schedule is nearly in full swing, my first set of exams halfway through, I'm in the mist of job-hunting, ECU football is off to an incredible start, and even yesterday Young Life club was started off with Greenville's largest ice cream sundae! Oh my, it's been crazy fun.

A few weekends ago Pitt County Young Life leaders made a get-away to the beach for the weekend. There I got the chance to sit on a rooftop and stargaze, letting God amaze me with the wonders of space. I was able to look out into the ocean, the waves crashing, and wonder how deep the love of the Father is for me. And my favorite part was the morning where we reflected on our lives and the things and people that have shaped us.

There really are no such things as consciences (as the beautiful Katie Smith has previously mentioned). It's absolutely amazing to look back and see what I've been through and what I've become because of it. I have grown immensely through the struggles and trials that life has thrown at me. People have come into my life and taught me what relationships should look like, all sorts of life lessons, and provided deep friendship. God is SUCH a mastermind in orchestrating every aspect of my life for a reason--reasonings far outside my understanding. The catastrophic events, the minute details--all of it!And somehow it works out into some sort of perfection, into a work of art. I've never really looked at my life in such a way until now.

At this point in my life, I really just have to trust God in what He has in store for me. My college career is nearly half over, friendships constantly blossoming, my future husband is still unrevealed, and new and unexpected things happen to me on a daily basis. Perhaps the best is yet to come. I don't know. I'm terrible at taking things one day at a time. I'm a crazy listmaker with my whole weeks planned out. Maybe I need to learn more about being still and letting God take control...the beauty of a quiet heart. Hmm.

"Be still and know that I am God."
~Psalm 46:10