Old people. Many of you may know that I really really love old people. But what is it exactly that I love about them? First of all, I love their slowness. The sloth- like pace of the elderly is an annoyance to most people, but for some reason I feel giddy inside when I see an old person driving slowly down Lincoln Avenue or snailing through the aisles of Wal-mart. I just love their pace. Because of their ailing bodies and frail hips they truly cannot go any faster than that, so why be bothered? Also, their slowness reminds me not to hurry. Another thing I love about old people is their lack of verbal filter. I don’t know about you, but I usually think it’s hilarious when an old woman is being sassy or an old man speaks his mind. My philosophy is that they’ve lived on this earth for 80+ years and by now they’ve earned the right to unabashedly say what they think. I fully intend to take advantage of this rule when I get old. However, even though I can appreciate some sass or even crass behavior in old people, I also really like it when they are sweet. This is probably my favorite thing about old people. I love having the opportunity to sit down with an elderly person and hear his words of wisdom gained by years of experience in this terrible, beautiful world. It is especially endearing when an old woman pats me on the leg or takes hold of my hand while telling me some of the most precious life lessons that she has learned along her way. Old people, if they still have their minds and you’re willing to listen, can offer you some of the best advice and wisdom. Oh man, I do love the elderly!

But…my love for the elderly probably comes as no surprise to most of you. I know that many of you know how much I love old people, because you tell me stories about your interactions with them, or you send me picture messages of old people when you see them around town. It absolutely makes my day when someone sees an old person and thinks of me. I love that people have begun to associate me with old people in their minds. But even more so, I want my life to be associated with Christ. What I really hope is that when people observe me and look at my life they will say, “That girl loves Jesus!” I want my life to be associated not just with those who are old (or with any other thing that I enthusiastically like), but with the One who is the Ancient of Days. After all, I do love Him more than anything else in this world. Lord, may you transform me more and more into your likeness, so that when people see me, they see YOU in me. May my love for you grow more and more so that through my actions others may see you and love you more.

Recently I have been thinking a lot about what to do after this year of internship is over. As I think, a number of possibilities come to my mind. I could stay here at Eastern and do a second year of internship, I could pursue a campus ministry job on another campus somewhere, possibly even in another state, I could search for job in family services, the field of study in which I earned my bachelor’s degree, I could start an all girl band and travel the world, I could join the circus, or I could play the lottery and hope to win big (ok, a few of those may not be real options ). Anyhow, sometimes these questions and possibilities can really weigh me down. So heavy!

In the first few chapters of his book Hearing God, Dallas Willard explains an interesting concept about knowing and doing God’s will. He explains that God may not be so interested in giving us specific answers and instructions about all of the who’s, what’s, when’s, where’s, and why’s of life. Instead God is most likely more interested in developing in us, through the work of His Holy Spirit, the kind of character that makes good and wise decisions in everyday life; just like the father of a maturing child does not always tell him exactly what he should do, but instead teaches him how to make good decisions on his own. As I think about making big life decisions, I think this concept still holds true. If it seems like God is staying silent on the particulars of where I should go and what I should do, maybe it’s because He is leaving it for me to choose. As long as I know that it is my duty as a disciple to love the Lord my God with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength, love my neighbor as myself, and make disciples as I am going out into the world, then maybe He is leaving it up to me to decide where and how to do that.

So, all this thinking about what’s next makes me think about vision. What does it mean to have vision? Where do my gifts, talents, and passions meet with the world’s needs? How do I discern my vision from God’s vision? Sitting on my bookshelf is an excellent book I read a few years ago called Visioneering by Andy Stanely. Through a study of the life of Nehemiah, Stanley writes about “developing and maintaining” a God vision versus a good vision. It is a great read, and I highly recommend it.

So, as I think about my own life, future, and vision, I propose a question to you… “What is YOUR VISION?”

Ephesians. Ahhhh, it is a joyfully refreshing book. Recently whenever I think about this ministry and this campus, I think about the command that has been given to us to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength…and love your neighbor as yourself.” I think of the call we have been given to “go and make disciples of all nations,” and I think of how difficult it can be to do these things. It is difficult to follow God on a college campus. Sometimes it is difficult to even find Him there. There are so many other things screaming for your attention, and often times there are so many lies being thrown at you. It is difficult to have wisdom and discernment. It is difficult to continue to grow closer to Him. Sometimes it is difficult to even want to follow Him and grow closer to Him. As I think about these difficulties, I think about the book of Ephesians.

In the book of Ephesians, Paul prays some powerfully uplifting prayers, he charges the Ephesians to live a righteous life, he encourages them to maintain unity, and he urges them to prepare to fight against the evil one. I echo many of Paul’s thoughts and prayers as I pray for you, and for all Christian students on Eastern’s campus. Ephesians 1:15-23, 3:14-21, 4:1-3 & 14-16, and 6:10-18…these are the things I pray for you. If you have the time this week, sit down and read through the book of Ephesians. Or better yet, pray through the book of Ephesians, specifically through each of these passages. Ask God to enlighten your heart with wisdom and knowledge of Him. Ask Him to strengthen you with power through His Spirit, and to help you be rooted and grounded in love. Ask Him to help you walk in a manner worthy of Him and not be tossed back and forth by the waves of deceitful teaching. Ask Him to prepare you with His armor so that you may stand firm against the evil one. Ask Him for these things, and He will answer.

Paul and I are asking Him too.

Sometimes life is a mess…an unpredictable mess. My days don’t go the way I planned. My life isn’t turning out exactly like I thought it would. I mess up, miss deadlines, accidentally stand up a friend, do the things I said I would never do. Blech. So…what do you do when things aren’t going quite right? When everything in your life feels just a little bit off? I’ll tell you what I usually do…I get grumbly. I find a friend to vent to and I start grumbling and complaining. “If only this were better… If only I had done a better job at that… It’s not my fault, she’s the one to blame, it’s his fault.” Blech again. You know what I usually fail to do when things aren’t going right? Talk to the Lord. Or better yet, listen to Him. Read His Word. I often fail to sit down and truly examine what’s going wrong. Maybe the problem lies within my own heart. Maybe I need to rearrange some priorities, lay some things down before the Lord, surrender. Maybe I need to take a step back and realize that He’s still in control, even when I’m failing and flailing. The attribute of God that I’m most thankful for these days is His constancy. He never changes. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” He is the Alpha and Omega, who is, who was, and who is to come. “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” He is constant, even when I am not. He is faithful, even when I am not. He is good, even when I am not. What a peaceful thought. So, it seems that the antidote to my particular illness is probably more thanksgiving and less grumbles. “Give thanks to the Lord for He is good! His faithful love endures forever.” Lord, give me a spirit of thankfulness.