The past week has just been one big transition. On Sunday I graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (go Badgers!) and spent my remaining few days in Madison, a place I have grown to love. As much as I'm excited to be done with school and not take any more exams or do anymore homework, I am going to miss many aspects of college. I'm going to miss the college atmosphere on gamedays. I'm going to miss the intramural soccer leagues I played in. I'm going to miss hanging out at the terrace, listening to a live band or walking down state street, trying different ethnic foods. But probably most of all, I'm going to miss the many relationships that God has blessed me with these past 4.5 years. I mostly am referring to the Christian community I was a part of here on campus, but I was also really blessed with great relationships with professors, students in the Biomedical Engineering department (my major), and co-workers at Union South and Rheta's dining hall.
Sitting on Abe after graduation
Me and my family
As I look back on my college years, it's pretty cool to see how God has been changing me and working in my life. I remember when I was just entering my freshman year, I was sitting on Abe Lincoln (similar to the picture above) telling him what I was hoping to get out of my college years (as is the Madison tradition). I remember feeling a hole in my soul (something that I'd been experiencing for awhile then) that I knew could only be filled by God. In the past, I had been trying to fill it with approval from my friends and partying and looking lustfully at girls. Now I enjoyed my high school years and had/still have a lot of amazing friends, but I wasn't really pursuing the one relationship that would fully satisfy me: my relationship with Jesus.
So there I was…sitting on Abe with this aching in my soul that was searching for something to satisfy it, knowing full-well that the answer was God. And so I simply asked that I would find a strong Christian community on campus, one that would encourage me in my walk with Christ. And as I recount the past 4 years, I'd say God answered my plea.
Within the first couple months of my freshman year, I became involved in an interdenominational Christian ministry on campus called Cru (formerly known as Campus Crusade for Christ). I met a guy in my dorm (Evan) who led a Bible study on his floor and invited me to one. Excited about this opportunity to meet some fellow Christians, I came and got involved with the study and eventually signed up to go on Cru's fall retreat (Fall Getaway). It was there where my life first began to change direction. The whole theme of the weekend was on the subject of evangelism. The speaker was preaching out of Matthew 28, the Great Commission, and it was there where I heard what Christianity was about.
You see growing up I had heard of Christ and accepted Him into my life and went to church and some Christian camps here and there, but it never seemed to fully shape how I lived my life. My mindset, especially during high school, was that I was saved from my sin because I accepted Christ and it was up to everyone else to come to that themselves. I only really thought that pastors and missionaries were called to preach/live out the gospel. I could just live my own life (as long as I wasn't too bad) and not really worry about other peoples' relationships with Christ. But after listening to this speaker, I soon realized just how wrong I was. As a follower of Christ, I am called to take the gospel to the ends of the earth. I'm not meant to contain it; I'm meant to release it. Christianity isn't just me and my relationship with Christ (although there is some personal aspect to it), but it's also about a fallen people being redeemed to their God. God doesn't want just me; He wants all the lost. And as one who has been found, I am called to reach out and be used by God to bring in the lost.
So throughout college I have been involved with this minsitry that God used to so affect my life. I led Bible studies, went to conferences, went on Summer project to Ocean City, NJ, etc. And through it all, God has blessed me with some of the most amazing and encouraging people I know. Some have been roommates, some have been people I've led in Bible study, some have just been people I've come to know at our weekly meeting (PrimeTime). I can't possibly name all the people that God's brought into my life these past several years, but I've been so blessed by all of them and have grown a lot in my faith and walk with the Lord because of them.
Chalk team for PrimeTime Seniors
Freshman Bible study Commune (roommates/housemates junior/senior year)
And so it's with this community that I must part with for this coming year. It's been bittersweet to say the least. It's hard to imagine that these are people whom I've developed such close relationships with that I won't see for a whole year or more; some maybe never. True there is facebook and Skype or whatever, but it's not the same. I will truly miss all of them and the wonderful times we've had together.
But it's bittersweet because even though it's sad to leave such wonderful memories, I'm also soooo excited for the ones to be made in 2013!! I've left Madison and have been home for two days now and already any feelings of saddness has past and only feelings of excitement and wonder and nervousness and anticipation remain. I know God is going to rock my world this year and I'm excited to see and experience Him in newer ways! And oh yeah…that community that I'm leaving behind; well, that's been replaced with another amazing community (N Squad!). Seriously, I've only met these people for a week several months ago, but I already have seen the encouragement and the wisdom and silliness and energy that these people provide. I'm so excited to be spending this next year with them!!
N Squad
So as I complete this transtion from college to the Race, it's been…well, bittersweet. I've grown a lot and have a lot of great memories with you Madison! But life must go on and what's up next? The Race!!! One can only imagine the growth and memories this year will offer. And as I begin this year, I ask for a similar ache when I sat on Abe 4.5 years ago. An ache to know the Lord more fully and to experience Him in ways that I've never dreamed. And I ask that just like before, God will answer my plea throughout my journey on the Race.
