I am currently 37 days away from graduating from Malone University…wait, what? Graduation from college?! But I just graduated from high school! Well, then again it was 4 years ago that I graduated from high school…but some days it feels like it was just yesterday.
I remember move in day freshman year…I didn’t know many people but I was excited to start a new journey in a new place with people who didn’t know much about me. The first semester was pretty rough but second semester came along and I met the people that I would be friends with for the rest of my college career and hopefully beyond graduation.
Each year of college had its ups and downs but I have enjoyed my time here at Malone and in some ways I am sad to see it end. I’m definitely ready to be done with the schoolwork…but I am not ready to leave behind all the friendships that I have formed throughout the years. I know I will remain friends with some of the people I have met, but I also know that some of my other friendships may not last.
The other week I had a breakdown or a pity party, (whatever you want to call it). I started thinking of how I am going to lose touch with all of my friends because I will be out of the country for 11 months and how I am going to miss so many important events in everyone’s lives, such as one of my best friend’s wedding, my cousin’s graduation, my parent’s 30th wedding anniversary, my mom’s 50th birthday, and so on. I worried about coming home and not having any friends to turn to and finding myself all alone. I kept thinking of how every one of my friend’s will be married or getting married and will have their career started and I will just be beginning.
I know…selfish, right?! All I could think about was myself and how I will be so far behind everyone and will be missing everything. But then it hit me…or actually it was probably God that “hit” me…I am going on a journey of a lifetime. I get to spend 11 months in 11 different countries spreading the great news of Jesus Christ! How awesome is that?! I mean, not everyone gets this opportunity!
Yeah, so I may not be getting married right out of college and starting a career; I may have to miss some important life events of people I care about, but you know what? That will all be here when I get back. My family will still be my family, my friends who truly care will still be here, and one day I will get married and have a career and a family of my own.
But not right now.
Right now God has other plans for me and I am ready to see what He has in store. Right now, I need to keep my focus on the present and enjoy these last 37 days of college. I need to enjoy every day this summer and take one day at a time. I shouldn’t be worrying about what I will be doing in a year and a half because that’s just ridiculous!
Like Matthew 6:34 says,
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
As hard as it is to live in the present, I think it is one of the best things we can do. Worrying will only cause stress in our lives. So why not just enjoy today and let God worry about the next day?
That’s what I plan to do, and I want to challenge you to do the same.
“Live in the present. Live in the moment. Enjoy today like there is no tomorrow.”
