Pretty, huh? :) Maine was fantastic. We've been to this campground every other summer since I was a baby, and each time we arrive I always feel like I'm home. When we leave for another 2 years, I want to cry. It's like this place is ingrained deep inside me. Kinda hard to explain.
Every morning I'd wake up slowly and saunter over to Nana's camper, where she had been fixing blueberry pancakes for breakfast. We'd sit around and chat in our pj's and then eventually decide to go get ready for the beach...we'd wander down to the sand and sit there for hours and hours, reading and floating and kayaking. Evenings? Lobster. Chicken. Italian subs. And then my favorite part - campfires. :) I love the smell of smoke in the air, and the crackle of the fire...and even the the way we had to carry flashlights to the bathroom to brush our teeth before bed. This is so you don't trip over a tree root and step in a puddle. Which I did. Of course. Sigh. Time to go back? I vote yes.
TRUST. Such a small word and a relatively simple concept, but I can count on one hand the number of people I know who have truly learned to apply it. I've been wrestling with this for about 2 weeks now, and the Lord has been teaching my stubborn heart slowly. I HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS...what will my group of friends be like this year? Should I stick with my major? Should I really audition for Heartsong? And if I make it, what will next summer be like? Will anything ever be the same in Richmond? Next year at this time, will anything at home be like it was? Will my friends have moved on and drifted slightly apart, consumed with new lives? And then here are some tough ones...Does the Lord have someone out there for me to marry? If He does, will I be ready when I meet him? Or will I be so in bondage to selfishness and sinful habits that I miss him? Or wait a minute...could God have a life of singleness planned for me? Oh the dread in my stomach over that question...
And what does God answer, you ask?
"...Be still and know that I am God...Trust in me with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge me, and I will make your path straight...For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future...You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart..."
I can trust Him. Whatever He has planned, even if I wouldn't choose it for myself, HE KNOWS BEST. And if I'm on HIS path, I will be at peace and full of joy and content in Him. No matter what happens and what trials and discomfort and sadness I face, He will be there holding my hand. And He will complete the good work He has started in me. His power is made perfect in my weakness.
Please pray that I will continue learning and applying this lesson with all my strength. More to come later! :)
posted by Kaitlin @ 9:30 PM
5 Comments:
Can your group of friends next year include me?? :) hehe
And trust is something I've been thinking about lately too... It's crazy to think we're so close to adulthood and there are just so many big decisions to make about everything. I'm glad I don't have to worry about doing it on my own though!
Ohhh Kaitlin...as much as I'd like to believe otherwise...no, I don't think anything will be the same when we return for summer vacations anymore. It was funny yesterday because Adam said goodbye to me, and he said, "It was good spending the summer with you," or something to that effect, and then I realized that we hadn't spent the summer together at all. I haven't seen him or you or...anyone, really, as much as I would have liked to this summer, and with all of the other kids off at school this year, things will change even more next summer. I just think we're growing up. It doesn't mean we can't still be friends and encourage one another, but...hanging out isn't going to be the same anymore. Crowds will change, people will change, new people will come in, familiar faces will become somewhat less familiar, but it's all for the better...usually. As for the parts about not knowing what to do with yourself at school and stuff...I sympathize completely. My major is starting to look really lame right now, and I have no idea what else I want to do. All we can do is pray that God will show us who and what He wants us to be (and He will!). I will pray for you and encourage you in whatever you choose to do unless it involves stuff that is illegal, you...thug...
Love,
Jessica
That was so long.
Thank you, and praise God, for that post. My life's been all but turned upside down (in the best possible way), in the last week, so I've been really thinking about what I'm going to do next year too. Verging on adulthood it seems isn't the only time when life can be uncertain.
See, I've been offered a job working in Africa for a year with African Enterprise. Like, what an opportunity! But there's more to it than just that as you can imagine.
So I've been sitting here blogging, procrastinating rather than praying, and I think the issue is one of trust. If you're trusting God, you'll be praying. But I'm finding it hard tonight.
Until now, that is. I just prayed about the whole thing, and my axiety levels have gone down heaps. Thanks for your thoughts, they were a real encouragement to me. May God bless you and look after you in all the things that are on your mind at the moment, as he is always doing.
Josh
Hey Kaitlin (with a "K")
It looks like you had a great time. Good luck with packing and organising for going back to college :-)
Luv Jennt
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