Faith and University Life 101
At Rebecca’s place today, the JOY fellowship was hosted a really yummy meal (gazpacho is in the big pot). All the food was made by Rebecca, Melissa Gopaul, and I believe some other helpers. The food was really good, and now I’m tempted to try making gazpacho some time. I guess I may have to wait until next summer rolls around, since I can’t see myself eating cold soup on a cold day.
After the food, Q&A panel – which was Alan, Lemond, and myself – fielded several questions from the upcoming frosh. We shared insights, secrets, encouragements and other sage advice. The stories, I felt, got people to relive our own experiences and emotions to a degree. The frosh who were there were – Rebecca Lai, Silas, Arthur, Cecilia, Victoria, and Alan Yu – are really a smart bunch. They’ve asked lots of questions from friends beforehand, so I’m not so worried about them. However, Alan and I stressed the importance of staying grounded, of having a friend or two to stay accountable to, of reading the Bible regularly, and of finding a community where your faith can be stretched and allowed to grow and to be nurtured.
I can remember my own heady days as a naive frosh – feeling the excitement of having the whole world in front of me. I still carry much of that enthusiasm, although it is much more tempered by realities around me and my own limitations. I’ll label myself as an idealist tempered by reality. Dreaming big – dreaming God’s dreams is now the name of the game. Isn’t it suprising how many people are living in realities constructed in and of defeat? If only we can sooner realize that the human experience centered in God is really the only journey to full fulfillment.
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.
- Jesus, John 10:10