Newness

I've moved a lot over the last five years, but only one of those moves was to a new semi-permanent home. Now I'm in a new city where I'll spend the next three years, so I'm trying to find my way around and make this city feel like home as fast as possible. So far I know how to get from my apartment to campus, and I've located a few restaurants, a grocery store, and a hardware store.

I even had a public transportation/city adventure earlier this week. It was surprisingly simple to navigate the bus and train systems to get to the attractions downtown. We did all sorts of touristy things once we got downtown, but I at least felt savvy managing to get downtown and back without incident.

I feel a bit like a character on Barney saying this, but I've made FRIENDS! It has been surprisingly easy to find friendly people that I have things in common with here. It's a bit like finding my Mothership; I'm surrounded by students who are interested in the same things I'm interested in, but who are passionate about service and change in a way that drives them to act independently. Each person I meet has had incredible experiences in service or education or life, and they all have so much to contribute. I'm ecstatic to be a part of such a vibrant and diverse community. I'm sure the newlywed phase will wear off soon and I'll be much less positive once the drudgery of school starts and people are less eager to make friends, but right now it's awesome.

The real challenge will begin on Tuesday when classes start. Until then, let the good times roll!

The Hike Continues...

I'm back from three months in CARRRRter Co., Tennessee with ASP, it was awesome, and there's no way I can capture it to explain it here, so I'm not going to try. If you want to know, find me sometime when we've both got 4 hours and some sort of sugary food.

As they say in RENT, "I'll pack up all my junk and go so far away, devote myself to projects that sell." Well, not sell, exactly, but you know what I mean. I packed all my essential belongings into boxes and drove them to my new apartment far away, deposited them, and came home for a last respite before I return again to the world of work, deep thoughts, intensive reading that is academia. I've decided that I'm resigned to change. I even feel like I've got closure on the whole college thing. Now the time has come for something new. I'm ready, I think.

The one thing I can say about my summer is that it got me straightened out. It reminded me of what's important. It empowered me to believe that I can and will do better, work harder, and keep growing. It allowed me to leave behind all that was comfortable and all the things that were holding me back and to see the wide open vistas of the future before me. And now it's time to move on.

It's a better place
Standing high upon this mountain
I've seen your face
Full of the light that only this height can show
A blistered hand is what you've given
But you've been given all you'll ever need to know

So walk down this mountain
With your heart held high
Follow in the footsteps of your make
With this love that's gone before you
And these people at your side
If you offer up your broken cup
You will taste the meaning of this life

It's a common ground
And I see we're all still standing
Just look around and you'll find
The very face of God
He's walking down into the distance
He's walking down to where the masses are

We're standing in a place of peace
But this is how the world should be
How the world should be