Change. A simple, 6-letter word. But, it is such a scary word
to most. It holds so much power in our lives. We have our ways, our traditions,
our places, our schedules, our families, our friends, all of our constants.
But, then change comes around.
College (from what I’ve seen so far) is an overwhelming
amount of change. One day, you’re in your hometown with all of your close
friends hanging out where you have for years and not worrying about a thing
because you still have a safety net. Then, boom. You’re living in a new city
with so many new people without a safety net under you. Your parents aren’t
around telling you what you should do. The teachers you’ve been around for
years aren’t there to help you out anymore. You have absolutely no idea what
club to join or where to plug in. Your friends aren’t there to go grab a bite
or take a quick WalMart run with you. Mom isn’t there to wash your clothes or
clean the dishes. Your sweet, cuddly dog isn’t there to make a bad day better.
You’ve got yourself. And sometimes that feels like all you
have.
My first couple weeks at college have been a little
different than that though. With an older sister, an older brother, and a lot
of older friends, I already had a safety net in Auburn. I didn’t have to go
through the painful adjustment to dorm life because I decided to live off
campus with some girls that are just like big sisters to me. I had an idea of
where I wanted to plug in already. I had seen through my siblings how serious
college classes are and how important studying is. I lived in Auburn for a week
with my sister one time, so I knew my way around town. I had even looked up the
transit that takes me from my apartment to campus. I was ready for college
life. I was ready to be on my own.
Even though my transition has been somewhat easier than a
lot of freshmen on campus, I have had to get use to a lot of things. Like
coming home from class at 11:30 to an empty apartment. What does one do with so
much free time?! I don’t know how to be that productive! And my dog isn’t even
here to entertain me! (#ilovelucy) But, not having a car in Auburn and living
off campus has been a major adjustment. And there’s little things everyday like
not knowing anyone to go talk to in the Student Center to kill time before my
next class. Or not be able to see/talk to my best friends everyday, the ones in
Auburn and not. But one of the most difficult things has been making new
freshmen friends. I came to Auburn with all of my older friends here and so
many freshmen from Madison coming with me. It is so hard to branch out of such
a huge comfort zone.
At this point, you’re probably wondering why I’m still
talking about my transition to college life. It’s simple. I want you to see
everything that is changing for me, before I tell you the most important part
about coming to college. And here it is:
There is one constant.
And His name is Jesus.
Even while everything seems to be changing for me, the same
God that has walked with me everyday is still here. The same God that brought
the Israelites out of Egypt. The same God who humbly came into a broken world
to be hope. The same God who lived a perfect and blameless life. The same God
who healed the sick, taught the masses, and washed the feet of the disciples.
The same God who was betrayed and brutally killed by being hung on a cross. The
same God that, through that, conquered death FOREVER. The same God that tore
the veil, so that we could be in relationship with Him. The same God that we
can now confidently claim salvation and eternal life in. The same God that has
“delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of
his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
(Colossians 1:13-14)
HOW CRAZY IS THAT?!
We do not deserve this! We are not “good” people by any
means of the word. We did nothing to
earn this. We sin against the Most High God constantly. But, He sees us as His
children and he pours His mercy and grace on us. If that’s not something to
celebrate daily, then what is?!
I have a constant. A hope. An eternal love. An everlasting
joy. A Rock that is higher than I that I can cling to. He is here and He is
working in my life. That is what keeps me going even when everything is
changing.
Praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord, indeed.
