Happy New Year to you all!! I hope you have all had a great year! And I hope even more that 2018 is the best year yet for all of you!
As for myself, I couldn’t feel more blessed. 2017 was an amazing year for me full of growth, new friendships, deeper relationships, unforgettable memories, and so much goodness. There have been struggles and hardships with the joys but God has blessed me to see the good in most things. I feel like for the last three years God has just been blessing me more and more. My relationship with Him ultimately began in the summer of 2015 and since then life has gotten better and better, with each following year being better and better. Not because it’s been easier. Life will never be easy. But because I have gotten to experience it all with my Savior. I have grown in my relationship with Him and striven after Him and as a result He has blessed me. And also it may be because I have learned to appreciate life more every year. So I thought I would take this time to share some of my favorite memories of 2017 and then share what I’m looking forward to in 2018.
The winter and spring of 2017 were really great for me! I really started investing in community by leading Campaigners (basically a Young Life structured bible study) for the middle school kids out here. It really gave my life new purpose to invest in those kids and God used it to bless me just as much as the kids.
But what really stands out for that winter and spring is a relationship I was in. It was the second long distance relationship I’ve been apart of and God just used it so greatly in my life. He taught me so much about patience and self control. He blessed us with laughter, joyful memories together, and a very clean and easy breakup. I feel I have a much more real sense of what it means to love and to be in love. Not that I’ve mastered any of this, but I’ve realized that love isn’t about being sweet to someone in the hopes that they will return the favor and fill a desire we all have. Love isn’t about trying to get something for yourself such as a feeling of self worth or belonging. All of this can and should be found in Christ. Love is about giving up your desires and comforts for someone that you care about without expecting anything in return. True genuine love is in my opinion shown in utter selflessness.
This summer I had an extraordinary experience on work crew at Young Life’s Trail West Lodge with my brother Jeremiah. There were plenty of hardships there too but the good found in it was unmistakable. I made best friends and unforgettable memories of laughter, service, joy, beauty, and love. Whether it was jumping into the pool fully clothed in a hail storm, hiking at night under the stars with best friends, serving in the kitchen even when that’s not a work crew job, doing the church clap with eighty people, working late into the night scrubbing dishes, or praising God when I was at peace and when I was broken it all in the end filled me up more than I ever could have imagined. Among many things God taught me a lot about peace and satisfaction and finding that in Him, the Prince of Peace.
Although all the friendships I made there were with people living thousands of miles away (similar to the relationships I’ll be making on the World Race) and the parting was very hard I find comfort in the words of Woodrow Kroll: “Christians never say ‘goodbye’; just ‘until we meet again.’”
On August 21st I had the joy of getting to see and experience a total solar eclipse with my whole family right in our backyard! Totality was among the most wondrous things that I may ever see. I may not experience anything like it in the remainder of my life. The creativity and awesome majesty of our Lord is beyond me.
This September I had the joy and excitement of applying for the World Race. And then in October I was accepted! My heart leaped in exuberance when I was accepted! It had been over a year since God had first told me to apply and the excitement of finally starting the journey was indescribable. God is so amazing and I know He’s going to use this adventure in so many ways in many lives!
This November I had the unique opportunity to go to a Young Life camp in Colorado called Crooked Creek for five nights to serve on work crew serving all the department heads of all the Young Life camps around the country. Crooked Creek covered the expenses for me and about nine other WFR staff to go. The beauty of everything about that week just astounds me. The surprising joy I found working in the PITS; the late night hot tub adventures in the 25 degree air; the Frolf matches whether I scored a whole in one or a triple bogey; the numerous card games; the beautiful snowy hikes in crocs and wet feet; the stories that brought tears to my eyes from laughter; all of it brought me such amazing joy!
This Holiday season I have greatly enjoyed relaxing. After a very busy first semester I’ve enjoyed the calmness of camp in winter. I’ve enjoyed the festive spirit in the air. I’ve enjoyed the Christmas music and Christmas lights. I’ve enjoyed spending time with family and remembering Christ’s birth.
“I am not tired of my work, neither am I tired of the world; yet, when Christ calls me home, I shall go with gladness.” – Adoniram Judson
This quote resonates within me. As I look back I thank God for all the struggles and pleasures of this past year! It’s been a great one that I won’t be likely to forget for decades. I thank God for the opportunity to live well. This next year is full of unknowns but I trust that God will bless me as long as I pursue Him. and I’m greatly looking forward to starting the World Race this September. I’m also hoping to experience one last work crew this summer hopefully at Woadleaf in northern California. Praise God for such amazing opportunities that are open to me! I pray I would never pass them by. Although I desire the next life I also desire to live this life well and full.
I’m not normally a big New Year’s Resolutions kind of guy. I try to just be the best I can be all year round (though I’m pretty bad at keeping to that standard). This year though I’ve decided to make a resolution to spend time with God every day for this month of January. It’s been hard for me to dedicate time consistently to God daily this December and November. So I want to make that a habit. And my brother Braeden is making the same resolution and we are going to keep each other accountable. Whatever your resolution I encourage you to find someone to keep you accountable. We aren’t meant to walk this life alone.
God bless you and have a very very Happy New Year!
“If today were your last, would you do what you’re doing? Or would you love more, give more, forgive more? Then do so! Forgive and give as if it were your last opportunity. Love like there’s no tomorrow, and if tomorrow comes, love again.” – Max Lucado
