six.

Listen to this as you read this.

This has been a dark week for my college community. Not only did a 2010 grad die in a car crash, a boy in my class had 2 heart attacks. He was placed on life support and was supposedly doing well. Until today. They are taking him off life support in the next 24 hours.

I have never seen such a rallying of people. People have been praying nonstop for this boy and his family since Saturday morning. People are still praying and everyone is hoping that he can pull through. However, things look grim.

It's been a weird process. I don't know this boy, but he is in my class, my age, in my dorm. I have seen him around all the time, but never talked to him. Yet I am deeply pained. I don't believe that God is punishing him. Maybe God's challenging his family and wanting to see growth and glory for Himself. Either way, I am upset. I thought he was going to live. I have never seen praying like this and yet the boy's condition is 'grave.' It really hits home how trivial everything else is and the immense faith of his family and friends.

His favorite verses are Romans 5:2-5:

"Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us."

"And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen" (1 Peter 5:10-11).

May this boy be an example to all. Life is fleeting, but Jesus is eternal. May you make the most of the moments you have been given. May you feel the arms of Jesus around you and find strength and peace in that. May fear leave you and the peace that can only come from Jesus fill that void. May you strive to be more like this boy and the friends and family he leaves behind. "Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen" (Jude 24-25).

ಐದು

For my Wellness class (basically gym), I have to write a paper on wellness and Christianity. I've been contemplating topics and I think I'm going to write about how the Sabbath fits into the pursuit of wellness.

Jeremiah 6:16 says, "Thus says the Lord: "Stand by the road, and look, and ask for the ancient paths where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls." I have been busy for a lot of my life, but I have never been as busy as I have been in college. It feels so weird not to be worrying about a test, or going to a game, or having a meeting. On Tuesday/Thursday mornings, I like to wake up early and go eat breakfast by myself. I like to catch up on the Bible and enjoy a little personal time to myself. It's hard to ever be alone here, but being alone is revitalizing for me and refreshes me, as does reading my Bible.

Even if I try to get all my homework done, there is always more that I can do. What I need to do is have a Sabbath. In the Bible, the Sabbath was on Saturday and was a time to reflect and not do physical labor, but to work out your salvation. With our busy society and a busy college life, many people, myself included, simply don't set aside any time to do nothing. It's so hard with the list of things we have to do, the thoughts running through our heads, the pressure that college brings. However, I need to keep the Sabbath.

The Sabbath is a rest for people. It's an opportunity to get away from the pressures and stresses of life and simply enjoy the relaxation and God's presence. Exodus 31:17 says, "[The sabbath] is a sign forever between me and the people of Israel that in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed." In the grand scheme of things, the things we are doing pale in comparison to creating the whole universe out of nothing. And even God rested and was refreshed.

Resting and having a Sabbath is good for everyone's well-being. Not only do you become physically refreshed, you can be spiritually and mentally refreshed. I hope to write more about this as I flesh out my paper.

Quattro.

It's been an eventful week. My friend from high school left today. I did the 12 minute run for gym class today. March madness has officially begun and spring is coming (it was 35 today!). It's just been a good week, a full week, a happy week.Who do you have winning in March Madness? Indiana Hoosiers all the way. Obama and I even have the same final 2 teams. We'll have to see.

Три.

         First day back. While I miss being on vacation, I actually enjoy school. I've always been sort of a nerd, but I like learning and how that feels. I was thinking the other day, what am I going to do after college? I won't be in school anymore after these four years. But in life you always are learning, I suppose.

         On a totally different note, March Madness starts tomorrow! I made my bracket today and I'm excited. I've never made a bracket for this and I basically just picked my favorite teams. However, I was fair. I didn't let my favorite teams make it to the Final Four. So we'll see what happens. Here's a picture of my favorite player from University of Kentucky from last year. He is going to go places. 

zwei.

last saturday before break.
my friend (you know who you are) is here from TEXAS.
sleeping until 2. PM.
walking the dogs.
anne of green gables [hour 1].
chicken scampi.
anne of green gables {hours 2 and 3.15].
church in the morn.
skyfall in the afternoon.
back to school at night.
8 more weeks until summer.
53 days.

uno.

Here we go.