God Sighting | October 27, 2007

Yesterday night was another one of those lonely, Fremont, Friday nights. I spent about five hours at the Border's coffee shop looking up major programs at various colleges, as well as professors and their research interests. When I came home I was again at one of those now-familiar lows--one in which I wondered, again, what worth there was to reading the Word. I sat down on a little white throw rug in my room, talking to God about the frustrations regarding where I was in life, my fears of feeling like I was destined to live an unexciting, insignificant life, and my inability to discern what I'm really passionate about, occupation wise, for His kingdom. In that moment, I think He brought to mind some key ideas about encouragement, it's pivotal role in my life, and its imperative role in the lives of others (I'll write more about it later). I think it was Him because that low-point feeling quickly left as soon as He began bringing those thoughts to my mind. He brought to mind a select few people I've known who have been constant sources of encouragement whenever I've spent time with them, and as a result, I've determined to start spending my time interacting with these people more intentionally and more frequently.

I also found myself praying that He would let me be a part of a big family, full of joy and excitement, where I could love others and be loved. Well, this Saturday morning I left my house to join what I thought would be a four to five person, college-aged group hike to Mission Peak. It turned out to be a 15+ person hike--parent-aged people, post college-aged people (I didn't know Max and Monica were going to be there too!), college-aged people, and junior high-aged kids! Afterwards, Max, Monica, and I were invited over to Steve M.'s house for some corn dogs, refreshments, hot tub, stories, and laughs. Kyle D. and his girlfriend even dropped by! So the answer to that prayer didn't come in the form of a big, biological family; it was a big family in Christ, blessing one another and being blessed during and after the hike, a family that was definitely full of joy and excitement.