Running Through the Grass like a Fairy Tale Princess

Yup. That's what I did tonight.
I guess I was just really happy. I decided to take an evening walk around the campus, dressed in a warm jacket and wrapped in a scarf. Today was a beautiful, blue-sky day, so the stars were numerous, dimmed a bit by the brilliant moon. I strolled for longer than I anticipated; what was supposed to be a 15-minute walk became a 50-minute trek through SU. All the tall street lights glowed and lit up the winding pathways, and I felt at ease.
I decided to mainly just take a deep breath and chat a bit with God, but it turned into a much longer talk. I realized how much time I had devoted to studying and working and hanging with friends and giving myself time to relax with Netflix- which aren't bad things- and I hadn't given any time to Him. Sure, I thought about Him, but it was the first time in a while that I spent more than 5 minutes talking with Him.
Well, I guess I was mostly talking AT Him, in a nice way. I didn't have many complaints. But He reminded me that it's a two-way street. So, I lengthened my time in the crisp cold air and took another lap around Smith Lawn- but silently. I just listened, or tried to listen. Honestly, even when I tried to go to a quiet spot, there was noise the harder I tried to listen. Lacrosse games in the distance. Cars driving down the road. People shouting in the distance. Different machines whirring outside of the academic buildings. Annoying, chattering crickets. Even when I tried to find a quiet solitude, it wasn't entirely quiet. It was just quieter. How in the world could I hear God here? I was listening, but the world just wouldn't shut up!
And then something hit me. Perhaps this was what I should take away from tonight. The world isn't quiet. It never really was, isn't, and probably never will be. But what matters is appreciating what's around you and learning to hear the quiet and the beauty and the voice of God between the noise. That doesn't make much sense, but it's what ran through my mind. I could find quiet in my own body by just being still and sitting on a bench without reaching for my phone or even a book. Just sitting. And as I sat, I felt calmer, more serene, and the noise around me started to sound more like beauty than anything else. I didn't want it to end. But, it was cold and getting late, and I can only walk so much.
So I cut across Smith Lawn and felt very happy and blessed. I was thankful that I started to take the time to listen, be still, and try to hear God's voice. And perhaps I heard a bit tonight. Instead of always talking to Him, I let Him talk for a change. And that's why I started running through the grass like a fairy tale princess. Being quiet, seeing the world by gazing at the vast heavens above, reminds you of how the world is so much more than college and academics and impressing your professors. It's about discovering a great and exciting story that everyone can be a part of. And it doesn't matter how silly you look as you skip through the grass. Sometimes you just have to do it. The only opinion that matters is the loving opinion of One.
I encourage you to find time to appreciate Him today. It may not be running through the grass, but it may just be deciding to walk just to walk, not with a destination in mind. Or sitting down just to sit and look around. It really puts things in perspective, and you feel just a bit more... complete when your gaze goes outward instead of inward.

In the Quiet

It's been a little while since my last post, but I'm glad to see that people are reading them!

What's been going on since my last blog post? Well, a little bit of everything. Classes are in full swing. Extra-curriculars are e-mailing me messages about joining their organizations. My schedule is starting to fill up a little more each day. And I've squished a few spiders.

Honestly, I can't fathom that over two weeks have passed already! Each day goes by so quickly, and with my classes only happening four times a week, the "work week" is even shorter! But, at the same time, it feels like months ago that I first moved in here. Now, when I trudge into my dorm after a hectic day, it feels like I'm coming home. Everything is starting to feel... established.

Though there are so many aspects I'm loving about college life, there are some things that I miss- quiet time being one of them. It was something we discussed in my Thought class briefly. Everyone, whether a social butterfly or a home-body, needs quiet time, needs a moment to relax. Here at SU, at least for me, it's something I will never take for granted again. There's really no such thing as being bored here.

Therefore, my quiet times with God, and my brief interludes of silence throughout the day are savored. When they arrive, it's like a greeting from a long-lost friend. I embrace it. There's so much to reap from a quiet walk across campus, or sleeping in just a little bit later, or sitting under a tree with my Bible. In those quiet moments, God whispers a reminder of His beauty and love. More and more, I'm reminded how important it is to "Be still and know that He is God." Without Him by my side, I fear that the business of life and the exhilarating power of being an independent individual would overpower me. 

So, I guess in conclusion it is something to praise God for. He is teaching me how to prioritize, to figure out what's important and what isn't, to slow down and savor the beautiful concept of resting and being quiet. I have a long ways to go, if you know me and my love for schedules, but being here at Susquehanna has taught me to pay more attention to the quiet. And in that beautiful quiet, His voice may be heard all the more clearer.