Joyful Apprehension

As our semester moves on, time passes equally as quickly. As I do desire to capture as many moments as possible with videos, pictures and blogging, I am moderately surprised that I already have our Argentina video finished, yet it comes as expected because time passes quickly here. Perhaps it is because I have much experience with editing documentary videos. Perhaps the realization that I and all the ACU students and faculty here have only two and a half months here left. Perhaps both. Shocking to know that a little over a month and a half has already flown by, gone forever. I already know that I will strongly miss this place, as other ACU students who have done study abroad here have talked about. I suppose now is the time to, as the movie Dead Poets Society stresses, 'Carpe Diem.' I'm only struck with the overwhelming realization that I had better make the most of every opportunity.

Besides this eschatological realization of this semester's short life expectancy, some good news elicits some joyful anxiety.

 We all have silent, interior monologues- a conscience, if you will. I think this nervous happiness comes from my conscience. This conscience is God's guidance, other times it's the Devil tempting and lying to me. I suppose this fulfills the classic stereotype of the angel on one shoulder, a demon on the other. Perhaps the angel on my shoulder is telling me to appreciate your life in any and every way that you can. Or, perhaps is simply me being observant of my time. I believe my observational skills (which, actually have surprised me how they've suffered lately) or my making tentative spring break plans or the angel on my shoulder is simply my conscience; God's guidance. I believe this divine providential guidance requires a bit of discernment. Discernment, in this context, simply including choosing the best doing the best with the time that is given to me.

In the middle of class, I thought of a particular passage involving discernment, and kept it as my interior monologue: a personal blessing that we all have. This discernment usually comes with age and/or experience. The passage that my conscience brought to me is Philippians 1:9-11

 

- 9And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, 11filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

The good news I mentioned earlier isn't necessarily new news. I believe it's official now that i'll be interning at Impact church of Christ VBS this summer. I honestly am very excited. I'll be in inner-city Houston, ministering to some of the congregation and loving on kids while I serve as a VBS intern. I'm happy and nervous at the same time. I guess it's like that Christmas feeling even though it's in the summer and I'm 21 years old. Christmas in July, anyone? Quite literally Christ mas as I will be making much of Christ serving him this summer. 

My excitement is not coupled with ignorance. I know fully well that it won't be a walk in the park this summer although I know I'll be going to some parks for VBS field trips. I think simply knowing and considering that proves my level of discernment. I know it won't be easy all the time but I also know there are good times to be had.

Hey, maybe I'm over analyzing this and making all this too serious:

I get to spend a semester in Montevideo, Uruguay, hopefully go to the Dominican Republic for a couple weeks and then I get to hang out with some cool kiddos!! WOO!!

In addition to being aware that I have a lot to say at times, the most important thing I must do is pray. A lot. I have no doubt that prayer works and answers always come in different ways. I must pray for a continuing good (but humid) semester, TJ & Holly McCloud's continuing success in the D.R. and for my summer I know will be full of good work.

Okay, very muchly a sidenote: the Spanish words for thing pancakes is 'panqueque.' 

HAHA!

I don't care who you are, that's funny right there.

Peace