Change occurs around us all the time. As I sit and think about being home for the last week, I realize how fast change comes. Junior year is finished, summer is here, and I only have one semester left at a place that’s been my home the last three years.
I think back to high school and remember reflecting on change: seeing friend groups shift, new classes, different small group leaders every year, and more. I remember realizing how much time is limited and how change is inevitable. Sometimes people are going to be in your life for just a season. How do I respond to this? I like consistency, structure, organization. What happens when I can’t control all the factors?
Change occurs, and sometimes, it hits hard. I realized this again at college as I was saying goodbye for the summer to some of my Residence Life staff members. As I hugged one friend in particular, I realized I might not see her again in the next year and a half. She is studying abroad in the Fall, and then I’m off in January on this next adventure. It hit hard as I realized this possibility, and the tears came quickly. She reassured me she is hoping to visit in September, but I couldn’t help but feel the weight of a possible “real goodbye”.
I think coming into college with the change I experienced in high school, something inside me wanted to fight the change that would come. I insisted on telling people “see you later” rather than “goodbye”. I knew with each goodbye there would be a time of distance followed by a sweet return to campus. The words “see you later” had such a temporary feel to me compared to the finality of a goodbye. I’m realizing that in these next few months, I’m going to have to face some tough goodbyes, not knowing when I’ll see people again. As I head off on the World Race, time is not going to stand still here in the States or at Messiah College. Seniors, classmates, friends, and mentors are going to grow, continue to move forward with what’s next, possible geographic moves, experience many transitions, encounter new seasons, and change. And the truth is… I am going to change too.
When I think about change, I see two parts associated with it: challenges and growth. The challenges are part of my reluctance towards change. To be honest, I see the unknown to be pretty scary. The unknown is out of my control and often involves change. It’s often not part of my plan. I have to remind myself, my plan may not be the best plan in the end. What gets me past this point is the possibility of growth. I’ve learned during my time at Messiah that one of my strengths is a developer (highly encourage you to check out Gallup’s strengths finder). As I interact with others, I notice this in myself as I listen and seek to help people learn more about themselves, what they are good at, and how they can continue to grow and see their potential. Growth isn’t automatic though. It takes effort, work, challenges, and change in order to gain further understanding and awareness of one’s self. I need to be intentional with my own growth as well.
As I sit in this time of preparation for the World Race, I’m spending time in God’s word soaking in some of His truths. I decided to start at the beginning and read the stories of how it all began. Today, I am finishing the book of Genesis, and God has been opening my eyes to new truths each day. I’m trying to start this journey of preparation without expectation of what is to come or how exactly God will move. I’m deciding to trust God in the process as He speaks to me and teaches me more about who He is and who He made me to be. I want to know more about His character and how He intended creation to be. I can do this by learning from the past, sitting in the present, and having hope for the future He has for me.
*Next blog, I’ll share more about what I’m learning in Genesis. Thanks for reading!
Sincerely,
Madison Riley
