10 - Aglow

 Open your phone or photo album and find a photo that you like.  Why are you grateful for this photo?  What are you grateful for in the photo?

Annie F. Downs recently moved to NYC, planning to live there for two months to fulfill a commitment she made to herself and her friends.  She is doing a weekly Annie in NYC podcast essay where she talks about her experience there and what she is learning in real-time.  This week, she wrote poignantly about how her body feels more alive, saying, "every part of me is thriving here."  She talked about the scene in Beauty and the Beast where he is slowly transforming and light glows from his hands and feet, using that as a metaphor for how she feels that she is "glowing" and living her best life there.  She talked specifically about how it's a city where you naturally walk a lot through the day, so she feels healthier and loves that there is more daily interaction and community, along with consistently learning new things and exploring/discovering new places.  More physical activity and human interaction, but a slower-paced life with less mindless TV and social media.  She was struggling with what to do with that and how it might change her life moving forward.

My heart found it hopeful and thought-provoking, immediately relating it to how I felt at CCU this summer.  My head was more pragmatic and too quick to dismiss it, minimizing this as something that's really an extended vacation for her, and things always feel more fun and special when they are new, and how if she really moved there, that glowy energy would probably fade out quickly and she would miss her people in Nashville...

But then I let myself listen to it 3 more times, reading several comments on Instagram about how others also found it moving and loved that she was sharing her heart with us and understood the struggle she was facing.  I thought about how so many people consider their college memories among the favorite seasons of their lives.  And how college campuses tend to be a place where you naturally walk more often and feel healthier and more connected to the natural world around you, you have more daily interactions and a consistent community surrounding you, and you're exploring new places, learning new things, and growing together. 

While Annie's NYC experience sounds pretty great, at CCU, there were some added bonuses:

• Theologically-solid Christian community
• Good mix of familiar friends and new faces
• Daily walks around the campus
• Scripture-filled campus atmosphere
• Meeting people who inspire me to grow and mature
• The God-created beauty of Colorado
• Exploring new restaurants and shops nearby
• Shared purpose and passion
• Feeling seen and valued
• Shared accomplishments and celebration
• A sense of internal and external safety
• Late talks and fun game nights (no TV in our room)

It was short, but that experience mattered.  Like Annie, I'm not certain on what to do with all of these thoughts just yet, but I've decided I should not allow my mind to dismiss or minimize it.  My heart matters to God - my story matters - and "I love to glow." ❤  There is truth to the practical side of it, as well... everything we experience here is partial and incomplete, the best things being a glimpse or a preview of what we will love most about our life in heaven!  So I like to keep that in mind too - nothing but Jesus is "perfect."  But we can be intentional about placing ourselves in an environment where we thrive and where it's easier to shine and be the best version of ourselves.  I'll keep praying about this and seeking God's guidance here, but I believe it's likely that studying and/or teaching on a Christian college campus is a part of my future path, and it makes me happy to think about that!

"May the Lord teach you to love one another and all people with a growing and glowing love... and may He so strengthen your hearts in holiness."
-I Thes. 3:12-13

(Quote by Howard Thurmon in the intro to my favorite John Eldredge book)

Happy Friday!
❤