Wednesday, December 30, 2009

A funny thing happens when we have too much

A funny thing happens when we have too much time - we waste it. I have discovered more and more that when I have excess of something, it is easier for me to squander it. This past summer I had about the same amount of leave as I have had for Christmas this year. Last summer, however, I was basically guiding a friend around west Texas. We took a little over a week and covered more than 1700 miles of west and southern Texas, and had a great time doing it. Once he left to spend time with his own family, I only had around 1 week of leave left over and I made very good use of it. I spent time with all of my friends that were in town, played basketball with them, etc. This leave, however, I really haven't made good use of my time. I had nothing planned, and consequently, nothing really got done. I hung out with some friends, met one for racquetball (and am now sitting around waiting for a rolled ankle to heal), and realized that the one girl I have every really loved isn't interested in being more than a friend to me.

I have started noticing a pattern. As a mechanical engineering student I often have an extreme load of homework. I realized this past semester that, regardless of how much homework I had I always finished up around the same time. Even on nights when I had virtually no homework due, I would find ways to distract myself until fairly late, and finally finish up my homework around the same time as usual. This epiphany has got me thinking. If I usually waste what I have excess of in these two areas, perhaps this is a common theme with me. What else do I waste because I have too much of? Immediately it hits me. What is the one thing that has been given to me freely, without end? God's love for me, and for all mankind. Am I wasting the love of my Savior?

I am now thinking about how I treat others. Do I share the love with others like Jesus has shared with me? Just as important: Do I accept the love of Jesus for myself? Or do I know it is there, know it is abundant, and refuse to accept all He has for me? I would submit that yes, I do in fact squander God's love for me, and I don't show the love that He has called us to pour out on those around us.

For any of you who are in the same boat as I am, I encourage you to think about how you deal with the things you have been blessed with having an abundance of (sorry if this feels like a sermon, this is just my musing of the day). Whether it be money, time, Love, or anything else, remember that God has called us to be stewards of everything we are given! I am working on that for myself...

Storm

Monday, December 28, 2009

Girls...encouragement for single dudes

My education program is rather unique for a couple reasons. First, I can only visit home for about 3 weeks at a time, and that happens only twice a year. Secondly, there is not even 1 girl at my institution that I could see myself getting into a serious relationship with. Or even a half-way serious relationship. Or, for that matter, any real relationship at all outside of friendship. That is not to say there are no good girls at my school, nor that I do not have any female friends there - because I do. I am friends with almost every girl at my school, and many back home also.

Here's my problem: every time I come home for a while and relax, visit friends, etc, I really, really start longing for a girlfriend. This is a problem that I have spend many nights in prayer over, and finally got an answer for last night. First, though, some background.

My family is extremely conservative. They were, for the longest time, of the opinion that all three of their boys would "court" their woman before marriage. This was fine to us, until we realized just how near-impossible that would be in this day of age, and how finding someone else who'd actually go for courting would be like trying to find Swarovsky crystal at the thrift mart. So the whole "dating" / "courting" issue with my parents never has been layed out for us and is, to this day, a bit of a gray area (I have decided to approach them about it before I leave for school again).

The other problem, which I was getting at earlier, is that if I want a relationship with a girl it will most likely have to be a girl from around home, because although there are some great people near where my school is, I just haven't yet found a girl to compare with some of the quality Texas gals I grew up with.

Back to the issue. If I am to have a relationship it appears as of now that it will have to be a long distance relationship. Long distance relationships are quite hard on both parties - I know of only one couple who has made that work well, and at my school that is what most people try to make work. So far, I haven't met a girl that I'm attracted to here at home that is willing to make that work. This results in much prayer on my part every time I come home because I desire so badly to have a some form of relationship like that.

Last night was one of those nights, all day I had been feeling pretty blue and angry so that by night I just started praying about it all. God's answer was quick and simple: "I have told you to wait, and you must continue to wait" But God, I have waited for twenty years already. "You are a mechanical engineering student, you don't even have time right now. Wait and I will reward." I am stubborn, But I can make time Lord. "This will be so much easier if you act bravely." That is when it hit me. I had a mental image of me happily spending my time on leave just hanging out with friends, content with what I have already. Sometimes we must wait on the Lord, trust him at his word. We know that God rewards those who follow his commands, and we know that he rewards well. Why not have a good attitude?

I have just finished the book Wild at Heart by John Eldridge. He talks about how we, as men, sometimes must take the road less traveled, and do the unpopular, hard task. It all sounds easy, inspiring even, but when it comes down to it that task is still hard and it's a hard choice to make. For me, and for every single guy out there who has been told "Wait" by God, this is what we must do for now.

Moral of the story: those of us who have been told to wait, it is our calling as men of the Lord to wait for His plan for our lives. I am, and you can also. Remember who you serve, and take pride in His promise for your life. The reward cannot be matched.

Storm

Howdy

As so many have found solace in forms of public journals, or blogs, I too have decided to start my own blog - for two reasons. First, because I believe it would be helpful to me to publish, from time to time, thoughts of my own. And secondly, because I represent what the modern media would consider to be a minority, yet is probably not anywhere near as minor as they would have us believe, and that minority would be a conservative college student with high morals and Christian worldview.

I have assumed the cover name of Storm Harms because I would like, for the time being, to remain anonymous due to my current education position. Storm, because I love storms and all that they represent (storm chasing is an exciting hobby of mine back home), and Harms, because, well, that seems to go well with storm.

So sit back, read away, comment if you feel compelled to, and spread the Love that this world so drastically needs!