a finals week haiku
coffee sleep coffee
more coffee write read coffee
waterfalls of tears
*snaps*
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The last few days I have received 5 different letters with Starbucks cards in them.
My friends and family know me well.
In the last week I have spent a total of 23 hours in various cafes preparing for my final exams.
At this point, I believe my blood has been replaced with coffee and my brain is riding a fine line between explosion and deterioration.
I have rewritten the first five pages of my final paper for my Senior Seminar course like seven times.
No joke.
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It's during times like these where personal health and relationships are often put on the back burner.
I do it.
You do it.
(Well maybe you don't, and if that's the case- kudos to you, my friend)
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This year in University Ministries at North Park we have been exploring the theme of
What's the point?
It has been a wonderful challenge as I pass through my final year of undergrad to be asking myself what the point is of my studies, my relationships, my work, my personal time, ect, not in a cynical way, but in an encouraging way.
What's the point behind my Spanish studies?
What's the point behind my area studies?
What's the point behind my work in the International Office?
What's the point in my relationships?
What's the point behind my job searches?
What's the point behind how I spend my "free time"?
What's the point behind my involvement in my church?
What's the point behind my work as a tutor?
What's the point behind my writing?
What's the point behind my Christmas gifts?
What is the point?
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2 Peter 1:1-7
"This letter is from Simon Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ.
I am writing to you who share the same precious faith we have. This faith was given to you because of the justice and fairness of Jesus Christ, our God and Savior.
By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.
And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world's corruption caused by human desires.
In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God's promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone."
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This is the point.
God has given us everything we need to live a godly life.
He has given us these great and precious promises that enable us to share his divine nature and escape the world's corruption.
It's in view of all this that we enter into this list of how to respond to God's promises.
Faith
Moral excellence
Knowledge
Self-control
Patient endurance
Godliness
Brotherly affection
Love for everyone
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I love how Peter writes this.
He starts with naming himself a slave and apostle, declaring his willful submission to God then proclaiming his calling.
He continues with encouragement.
We share an amazing faith to a just and fair Savior.
This incredible God has given us everything we need to follow the bar that he has set super high.
That list (Faith to Love for everyone) is no easy task.
I know, undoubtedly, that I can't do this.
Kayla can't do this.
But, Christ in Kayla can.
The bar is set so high, but God gives us the pole to fling ourselves up and over.
My favorite part is how this list builds and culminates with "love for everyone."
What is the point?
Love for everyone.
That's not a typo, that's the end goal.
Yesterday in church, Jeff Hunter said something that I really appreciated.
"It is becoming increasingly clear to me that being a Christian isn't complicated, it's just hard."
Following Christ is not rocket science, but that doesn't mean that it's easy.
It requires a willful submission to Jesus and trust in these precious promises.
He has given us everything we need,
it's up to us to live into that truth.
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So, what is the point?
How are my studies, work, relationships, activities, investments and spirit responding to these promises?
In view of all this how am I loving well?
In view of all this how are you loving well?
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Finals week, man.
Coffee.
Tears.
Migraines.
Sleep deprivation.
All the crazy.
What's the point?
