And these three things define college to you, to me.

-Back home again from BSC feeling exhausted, yes, but energized in ways not physical. It was so refreshing to reconnect with one of my best friends from back home, we share the same mindset on basically everything and are going through a lot of the same things right now. It was so relieving to be able to instantly reconnect and meant a lot to be able to. The fact that even though we only talk once or twice a month but anytime we see each other it’s like we haven’t been apart is invaluable to me. Growing up in church and maturing in Christ together we are in similar stages in our walks with Christ and because of that and build each other up so much and just having that reconnect refueled my passion for why I live the life I do.

The three words/terms we decided define college are these: “identity, throw it all out the window, and doing the little things”

Identity: coming into college we are trained to try to prove ourselves to everyone around us, it’s simply human nature and an easy way to do this is to fill you time and schedule with things that you can call say, “I’m a part of ___________, __________, and ___________.” But, as time progresses the people who accepted you for the things you are a part of and that reason only drift out of your life. The only way to define yourself is through Christ. Everything else is merely an asset. You really learn a lot about how you view yourself and how everyone else does as well. Identity.

Throw it out the window: This is a kind of direct spawn from the point of “identity” how you think you are defined, how you think about the world , how you judge others and think you will be judged as well. Just throw it ALL out the window. College is not the same for any two people, but it is not at all what you have preconceived in your mind. It is a wonderful incredible experience but it is like being dunked in cold water, your eyes are opened and it’s up to you if you ignore them being opened or if you accept the world for what it is and learn to live “in the world but not of it” What you think is bad what is good, what is sin, what is ok, where to draw the line, You will be stretched and challenged, but if you know who you are and how you define yourself, you will be fine. Cling to the word and hold fast to the cross and especially your friendships.

Doing the little things: This is how you can prove you know who you are, this is how you show others your identity, this is how you throw it all out the window, this is how you find yourself and how you fulfill the Great Commission at this stage in life. It is as simple as being the sober person at the parties, repeatedly. Easy as inviting other to church every Sunday again and again. Easy as living for others more than yourself and dying to your selfish needs. It’s doing the little things. Even if they don’t affect people in the here and now who knows how God can use these actions in the years to come. Don’t you want to be able to say ‘I used every moment as a chance to lead others to Christ, I had fun, I lived fully, War Eagle.’ That’s my goal, and to achieve it I try to keep the little things in check and somehow the big things seem less important and everything falls into place. All really is in God’s hands.