This Must Be How It Feels

So there's Christmas lights and a tree up in the cafeteria already.

'Tis the season.

Come on, people. One holiday at a time. Thanksgiving is still on its way and we're already baking cookies and singing carols. Slow down. I need my turkey and my pumpkin pie. Don't rush me.

I get to head home tomorrow for the first time in three months. I'm really excited. Okay, that's maybe not the right word. Honestly, I'm not sure how to handle it. I've developed a whole new routine since I got to Trinity, and it's going to be weird leaving it behind, if only for a few days. It's as I've developed two separate lives: one at home and one back in Grand Rapids.

I just called Trinity home. That in itself is strange. Home, where I only know about 40% of the people around me, where my meals are either ramen or food from the cafeteria, where I sleep an average of five hours a night, regardless of when I go to bed. What happened to spending every waking moment with my closest friends Jared, Seth, and Luke? What happened to home-cooked meals, dinner around the table with my family? What happened to getting a night of sleep without waking up freezing, burning, or in a panic?

Is that not home anymore?

Now I'm going home home, and as much as I can't wait to scoop up my little brother and fist bump the twins, I'm a little anxious. I've barely talked to anyone from home in weeks, and I've of course heard friends talk about how they barely know their older siblings because they went off to college. That's a scary thought, and it's honestly the only thing that initially held me back from going to Trinity.

And because I'm working the days after Thanksgiving, there's little or no time to catch up with the dozens of people messaging me, saying "When will you be home? We need to hang out!" Sorry to disappoint some of you, but I'm going to have about literally 4 hours to chill with people, and there's already a wait list.

I guess this is just part of growing up. I have to keep reminding myself that as of August 28, 2013 I am a legal adult. Weird.

But hey. God's got this. I'm excited. I get to see my brothers again, and we'll be Minecrafting it up just like old times, making obscure movie references and providing endless sarcastic commentary on everything Mom says. Ah, the memories. :)

Today's song: To Have a Home, by Darren Criss. I just really love this song. For those of you who don't know, it's from A Very Potter Sequel, the second installment of A Very Potter Musical. If you're a Harry Potter fan and you don't mind the occasional off-color joke, it's absolutely hilarious. Take a look at the lyrics. It's good stuff. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uesDv58ZLZE

Alright, I'm calling it a night. Adventure awaits tomorrow! ALLONS-Y!!!

The Road goes ever on and on

Down from the door where it began.

Now far ahead the Road has gone,

And I must follow, if I can,

Pursuing it with eager feet,

Until it joins some larger way

Where many paths and errands meet.

And whither then? I cannot say.

Staying Home Sick

Well, no one can say I didn't try.

I drank plenty of water, got more than enough vitamin C, made sure to get a decent night of sleep, and somehow the cold still got the best of me. This morning I woke up for my 9:00 AM class and immediately decided that I was not going to class today. My head was pounding, my sinuses were clogged, and I was really sore.

It's been a few hours and I've gotten plenty more sleep. My headache has subsided to a dull murmur and I'm significantly less sore. My sinuses are still pretty rough, but they're starting to clear.

In the meantime, I've spent my day contacting my professors, watching Doctor Who, and drinking large quantities of chamomile. That stuff works wonders, I tell you. The tea is nice too.

After the ridiculous stress of this week it's honestly nice to have a day entirely to myself. Solitude is a blessing in a world where you never know when thirty people are going to invade the room next door. It gives me a chance to recharge that even the weekend can't provide. I've actually completed a lot of tasks, and now I can rest and relax.

Tomorrow is laundry day. I've put it off for far too long.

I really don't have much else to say. It's been an uneventful day. Here, have a song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2Bu0Vb8Glw

So much chill.

That's all I got.

The Road goes ever on and on

Down from the door where it began.

Now far ahead the Road has gone,

And I must follow, if I can,

Pursuing it with eager feet,

Until it joins some larger way

Where many paths and errands meet.

And whither then? I cannot say.

Love and Judgment: Why I'm Sick of Stereotypes

So today I had an unfortunate misunderstanding with one of my good friends who tweeted something that instantly made my blood boil. As it turned out, the statement was completely justified (just confusing out of context) and I apologize for my outburst, but it got me thinking. 

One thing that has been weighing pretty heavily on my heart lately is that of identity. College is a time for people to discover who they are and what they want their lives to look like. I feel that I've done a lot of that in my first few months of college, but in doing so I've noticed a trend. There's a specific aspect of who I am that seems to instantly change people's perceptions of me: my faith.

And the crowd goes wild. Oh, shut up, they say. Christians are the judgmental ones. 

Do people even know what judgment is anymore? 

There's a difference between passing judgment and disagreeing with someone. Example: when one of my very good atheist friends tells me he doesn't believe in God, does that mean he's "judging" my religion? Of course not! He's simply stating a fact of his beliefs, which I respect. And if I disagree and say "I believe there's a God", am I judging him? No! Do I feel the need to "correct" him and force him to believe what I do? Nope. I don't judge. 

Yet somehow, as a Christian, people assume I'm passing judgment. 

Judgment is a legal term that has nothing to do with opinion. You could replace it with the word sentencing. But in today's day and age, we use the word judgment as a childish argument for why someone is wrong. If a stranger has a differing belief from yours, well then, they're clearly judging you, and therefore you have the moral high ground and this makes you right. It's a pathetic argument and holds no logical weight, yet somehow it's generally accepted as a higher form of debate. 

By those standards, isn't a stranger calling me judgmental... judgmental? 

Here's where things get tricky, though. As Christians, we believe in a God who does judge. He made the rules, so He calls the shots. As creator He told us what was right and wrong, so as believers we logically have to believe that if He's right, people are wrong. It's fundamental to believing anything: you have to think it's true. If you don't, how can you say you believe it? If an atheist said they believed in a god, they wouldn't be an atheist, now would they? 

So you see my dilemma. I can stand up and be called a judgmental bigot (among other things), or I can submit and turn in my Christian card. 

I've chosen my path, and it's not without its struggles. The simple statement "I'm a Christian" or even the mention of a controversial issue with no opinion at all has evoked some intriguing responses. I love the ones that feature profanities. I also love when people tell me to stop acting all "holier than thou", as if a) I use a King James Bible and b) I'm somehow acting like a perfect little child. Those same people generally assume I've never done a rebellious thing in my life. It's as if they believe the statements they use to call me a hypocrite. They tell me to stop pretending to be perfect, and yet at the same time they really think I am. 

Anyone who thinks I'm a perfect person has clearly never met me. It's honestly the most isolating feeling when you're hurting and people who know nothing about you tell you your struggles are nothing because as a Christian you can't have done anything that bad. Believe me, that's a lie.  

Now I'm certainly not speaking for every Christian on the planet. I will submit that there are too many Christians who are cruel in their beliefs. They do truly pass judgment on people, instead of leaving God to do His job. These people make real Christians sick, and it's a poor reflection of the greater body of Christ. A good example is Westboro Baptist. They profess to be Christians, but they don't reflect Christ's love in any way. They simply condemn people for their sins. Honestly, the kind of people Westboro would judge the most are some of my best friends. They are the strongest, most loving, caring, amazing people I know. I owe them so much. 

It also doesn't help that so many people aren't proud of their faith. They constantly put down other Christians and act like it's all a stupid game, but then you talk to them and realize they are true Christians.That sometimes bothers me more than anything else. It's like wearing your team's jersey to a game and then putting on a jacket and cheering for the other team. With religion, it's all or nothing. 

Needless to say, Christians are not perfect. That much is without doubt. But that's the point of Christianity. We're broken, and God fixes us. We can't fix each other, and to try to do so isn't how we should operate. Instead, we should be mindful of the Holy Spirit's influence on our lives and let God do the healing. We're called to love, not judge. 

Today's song: City on Our Knees by Tobymac. It's a song about unity. God reaching down to touch our sinful world "in a glorious display". The most relevant line I think: "It's all love tonight, as we step across the line." Regardless of religion, race, age, gender, or sexuality, I think we can all agree that if everyone took a step out in love, the world would be a much happier place. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlaKYbG5Bq0

The Road goes ever on and on

Down from the door where it began.

Now far ahead the Road has gone,

And I must follow, if I can,

Pursuing it with eager feet,

Until it joins some larger way

Where many paths and errands meet.

And whither then? I cannot say.

A Shotgun, a Beer, and the Gospel

Gran Torino is one of those movies that improves with age, both of the film itself and that of the viewer.

For those of you who haven't seen it, it's Clint Eastwood as an aging Korean War veteran living in a gang-infested inner city neighborhood. It's full of adult language and a ridiculous number of racial slurs (Eastwood's character is extremely racist), but it's nonetheless an amazing film. I watched it with my dad a few years back, and it has now become a rite of passage in the Piersma household because of the deep symbolism hidden in it. Those of you who don't want spoilers, turn back now.

Walt Kowalski lives alone. He hates his family, he's bitter towards God, and he's haunted by his memories of the war. His life consists of drinking beer on his porch and fixing his Gran Torino (that's a really nice old car). All that changes when some Hmong immigrants move in next door. After their son Thao is pressured by his gang leader cousin to steal Walt's car, the family commissions him to work for Walt in payment for his crimes. Despite his initial displeasure, Walt takes the would-be thief under his wing and teaches him how to be a real man, giving him useful life skills and showing him how to stand up for himself. In turn, Walt himself learns to let go of his own racism (aside from his incessant use of racial slurs) and becomes good friends with his neighbors.

When the Hmong gang shoots up the neighbors' house in an attempt to get revenge on Thao (Walt humiliates them multiple times through clever banter and demonstrating his prowess with a gun), Walt prepares to enact vengeance. He tricks Thao into staying behind by locking him in the basement and goes to face the gang alone.

This scene is the most important moment of the entire movie.

Walt stands in front of the gang's house and names their sins. As the neighbors gather at their windows, Walt reaches into his jacket. Thinking he has a gun, the gangsters open fire on him, killing him instantly. As he falls, he lands on his back, arms spread wide, blood trickling down his wrists.

As it turns out, he never even had a gun.

He was reaching for his lighter to smoke one last cigarette.

And as he fell to the ground, he landed in the shape of a cross, blood running from his hands.

Now tell me Clint Eastwood isn't trying to make a point.

It's not entirely clear what that point is at first. Judging by his character's statements early on, Eastwood hates God. God is useless. God is dead. But in some way, somehow, for some unknown reason, Walt becomes Christ for his friends. The symbolism is far too obvious to be coincidental. Walt's body is broken, and in that brokenness Thao and his family find freedom. There's even the parallel of Christ's hands bleeding on the cross when Walt hits the ground. Eastwood is intentionally using Christian imagery here. Like Jesus, Walt knew he had no hope of survival. But he also knew that his death would bring judgment on the people who hurt his new family. There were plenty of witnesses, and his lack of a gun guaranteed their incrimination. He sacrificed himself, an innocent, to save his friends.

But hold on, you say. How can you compare a hateful, bitter old racist to the perfect Son of God? And I respond by asking how did Saul, torturer and murderer of Christians, become Paul, the most celebrated evangelist of all time? We emulate Christ. It's what we were meant to do. That doesn't mean we all have to throw ourselves in front of a speeding bullet, but we can all learn to sacrifice for the sake of others. Regardless of our sins, regardless of our pasts, regardless of our circumstances, we can do good in this world through Christ who strengthens us.

The Road goes ever on and on

Down from the door where it began.

Now far ahead the Road has gone,

And I must follow, if I can,

Pursuing it with eager feet,

Until it joins some larger way

Where many paths and errands meet.

And whither then? I cannot say.

The Eagles Are Coming!

So I've had at least a dozen people ask me this question upon being told my Twitter handle or blog URL: "Eagles are coming? What the heck does that mean?" 

Those are the kind of people I shoot on sight. 

Just kidding. But seriously. Those of you who know me pretty well know that I'm a HUGE Lord of the Rings fan. My father read Tolkien's books to me when I was very young and I fell in love with them. Even at a young age of six I avidly followed the production of the film adaptations, and saw the second two in theatres. I now watch them on an almost weekly basis and read the books at least twice a year.

The phrase "the eagles are coming" is a reference to the end of both The Hobbit and The Return of the King. In both books, the characters find themselves in over their heads, fighting off hordes of enemies but quickly losing hope. It is at this point that the massive eagles that inhabit the mountains of Middle Earth arrive and save the day. Invariably, someone yells out "The eagles! The eagles are coming!"

So now you know. I'm a huge Tolkien fan, and this is my homage to his work. 

But there's more to the story. 

More than once in the last year or so I've found myself in over my head. Like, majorly over my head. But like the eagles in Tolkien's tales, God invariably comes to my rescue. Note the phrasing here: the eagles are coming. The eagles aren't here yet. They might not show up in time to stop the pain. People might die. But it doesn't matter. They are on the way. There's hope. In this same way, God doesn't always show up when I want Him to. But as much as I resent Him in that time, He always arrives at the right time. In the words of Gandalf, "A wizard is never late, Frodo Baggins. Nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to!" 

Why the poem, you ask? Well, regardless of whether you asked or not, I'm telling you. This is my blog and I'll do what I like with it. I don't need your approval. 

The poem is also a Tolkien bit from The Fellowship of the Ring. I may be young but I've been down a lot of roads. Some of them were good; others ended in pain and forced me to turn back. The point is, no matter what hardships we face, the Road goes ever on and on. Life doesn't slow up just because we don't like how it's going. There's always a chance for a new start. A grand adventure may be waiting just around the corner. And whatever happens, be it good or bad, I must follow the Road if I can. 

Song for today: May It Be by Enya. This song is featured at the end of the film adaptation of The Fellowship of the Ring. Take a look at the lyrics if you get a chance. It's good stuff. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jP9Zj1CkPy8

That's all I've got for tonight. God bless!

The Road goes ever on and on

Down from the door where it began.

Now far ahead the Road has gone,

And I must follow, if I can,

Pursuing it with eager feet,

Until it joins some larger way

Where many paths and errands meet.

And whither then? I cannot say.

Things That Didn't Happen Today

There are a lot of things that did not occur today. This is a small sampling of the things that did not occur.

Things that didn't happen:

1. Me getting up for theology: my alarm was improperly set (stupid AM/PM settings) and I therefore missed today's first class. Bleh. Honestly, I'm really upset about it. I can't really afford to keep missing it.

2. My head working properly: waking up with a headache is no fun.

2. Intellectual conversations with Krajecki: "Jeremiah, as we all know, was a prophet. And he was one hell of a prophet, I tell yah."

3. Me properly numbering this list: Notice the two twos. I feel intelligent.

4. Appearance of a inter-dimensional space whale through a wormhole in the back of Sociology: Granted, the chances of a humpback spontaneously developing the ability to survive in a vacuum and traverse time and space were unlikely even in the grand scale of an infinite universe, but hey. It certainly would have made class more interesting.

5. The girl in the back of class silencing her phone's camera: Awkward.

6. Kubiske showing up for lunch or class: Where is that kid? Probably sleeping. He does that.

7. Me thinking of a decent topic to write about: You, know, actually, I kind of like this one. It really reflects the scattered-ness of my thoughts right now. Moose.

That's all I have to say for now. Song for today: It's The End Of The World As We Know It (and I Feel Fine) by REM. Considering the storms from yesterday, I'd say it's appropriate.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0GFRcFm-aY

Later, people. Nathan Piersma, signing off!

The Road goes ever on and on

Down from the door where it began.

Now far ahead the Road has gone,

And I must follow, if I can,

Pursuing it with eager feet,

Until it joins some larger way

Where many paths and errands meet.

And whither then? I cannot say.

Rain and Renewal

I love rain. Rain cleanses. Rain renews.

The sound of rain emanates peace. 

It's a reminder of the way God renews us every day. Even when we're the most lost and afraid, God rains down love and peace upon us. Today I got to bask in the peace of Christ, and it was beautiful. 

Today I woke up at about 11:00 and went to the laundry room. Everyone else in South Hall was either home for the weekend or still asleep, so I sat in solitude, eating oatmeal and reading Game of Thrones. It was honestly a really refreshing break from the hectic social setting of college life. At around 1:00 I went upstairs and found Sierra, and we watched Jurassic Park. Sierra had never seen this particular movie, and while I had, I had not watched it in recent history. This led to some ridiculous jump scares and screaming from Sierra, which of course led to some ridiculous laughter from me. Maybe she'll forgive me sometime before we graduate.

Afterward, me, Tater, and Sierra were bored. So we grabbed some books and had a reading party. The titles: Game

of Thrones, The Hunger Games, and Ender's Game.

After this we gathered the troops (which consisted of me, Potato, Sierra, and Sherlock) and went to dinner. The cafeteria was aglow with Christmas lights, which reflected off the massive windows around the room and created a shimmering, almost magical atmosphere. I hadn't eaten all day, so I devoured two chicken wraps, two orders of fries, an entire Belgian waffle, and a slice of apple pie. Needless to say, it was a good meal. At this point Mal-Mal, Krajecki, and Anneliese returned, and after some socializing we headed back to South. 

From here Sierra, Mal-Mal, and I departed for Walmart. There we spent our time foraging for cheap food, trying on fuzzy hats, and digging to the bottom of the $5 movie bins. We surfaced with Saving Private Ryan, Burlesque, Gran Torino, and In Time. After a nice walk in the rain from the store to our car (conveniently parked at the other end of the known universe) we drove back to campus. 

We parked at the BBC and prepared for a long, cold trek home. However, our luck improved when a campus security Gator pulled up next to us. The guy inside asked if we wanted a ride, and so we pulled up to South Hall in style, soaked from sitting in the open bed of the cart but dying of laughter from the joy of the ride. 

Now I'm sitting on the top bunk typing away, back to the window, listening to the rains pour down outside. We're setting up for a massive movie marathon that's probably going to last all night. I'm excited. Across the hall Erin's room is a flurry of activity. She and Anneliese simply can't stand each other any longer, so Anneliese and Krajecki are switching rooms. I think everyone's happy with the move. The shrieks of laughter coming from Erin and Krajecki confirm this. 

So I'm signing off for the night! It's been a great day of renewal and rest that I've been sorely in need of. Song for this post: A Day Without Rain by Enya. Dad used to play this on dark, rainy Saturday mornings when I was little. The sound of it still brings back the same sense of peace and tranquility I felt back in those days. It's a tradition I'll be continuing for a very long time to come. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDgbEexEHOY

Goodnight, everyone! And may the peace of Christ be with you. 

The Road goes ever on and on

Down from the door where it began.

Now far ahead the Road has gone,

And I must follow, if I can,

Pursuing it with eager feet,

Until it joins some larger way

Where many paths and errands meet.

And whither then? I cannot say.

Learning to Listen

Nathan Piersma's Recipe for Stress Relief

1. Find a three hour break in classes.

2. Turn on laptop and start The Empire Strikes Back.

3. Add cocoa powder, hot water, and mug.

4. Mix contents with Batman: Arkham Asylum and The Lord of the Rings: War in the North. Stir until a proper blend is achieved.

5. Add a dash of clever banter with your suitemate.

6. Serve with naps and enjoy.

I've been in need of a day like this. Despite the fact that the actual time I spend in class each day is less than high school, I find myself doing a lot more homework. Example: last night I wrote four separate English papers. It took me hours, and I was up until 2:00 AM. As a person who values rest, I can't maintain this kind of lifestyle for very long. Even on days when I hang out with my friends, the fact that I've spent hours on homework in order to do so leaves me stressed despite the comfort I find in their company.

I've decided that I need to tone back my life. I'm so worried about not missing out on anything that I'm spreading myself thin. This realization has led me to refrain from trying out for Outcry. I am content to lead chapels and plan Outcry services, but the idea of making yet another commitment when I'm struggling with my current responsibilities is terrifying.

Honestly, it hurts to give this up. It hurts a LOT. One of the reasons I was so excited about going to Trinity was being a part of Outcry. But as much as it hurts to miss out on it this year, I can feel God telling me that I'm giving too much. I'm spreading myself so thin that I can't focus on any one thing. My involvement is surface-level. I'm thinking about the actions of my activities more than what God is trying to say through them. This new semester is a chance for me to slow down and listen to God's voice. As an undecided English major with no career plans, I need this year to find a baseline for what God is leading me to. I can't wait for next year to lose this stress and become a part of the Outcry team, but until then I will learn to be content in what God has given me here and now.

Now it's time for me to slow down and listen quietly for God's voice. I'm going to put aside the pain and see what it is God's trying to tell me. It's hard to let God do His thing when what He does isn't what I want, but this isn't the first time He's done this, and the choices He makes are the best of my life.

So I guess I can add one more step to my recipe:

7. Let go of your fears and stresses, throw away your plans, and let God take the reins.

Song for today: Steady My Heart by Kari Jobe. A great song that reflects the fear and pain of letting go, but also the joy and peace that comes with trusting God. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0ip40j82ws

The Road goes ever on and on

Down from the door where it began.

Now far ahead the Road has gone,

And I must follow, if I can,

Pursuing it with eager feet,

Until it joins some larger way

Where many paths and errands meet.

And whither then? I cannot say.

Radio Silence

It starts early this morning.

A new threat has arisen in the wake of the Interim Apocalypse. A looming sense of dread descends on campus. Fear grips the hearts of Trinity freshmen. Few dare speak of it, but there are always whispers, hushed voices giving a name to the nameless terror.

Registration.

At exactly 11:30 PM, my squad and I rendezvous at our base of operations deep in the cellars of South Hall. We set up our computers, disable WiFi on our mobile devices, terminate all non-essential computer processes, rig up some Ethernet cables, run optimization software to clear temporary files, and log onto the registration servers.

The countdown begins. 30 minutes.

We wait. And wait. We refresh the page over and over, willing time to move faster.

20 minutes.

Preliminary reports from social media show that enemy forces are suffering the same psychological effects we were. It's too late to turn back .We're plugged in. Aborting the mission this late in the game will result in complete scholastic breakdown. There's no other sounds in the room aside from the whirring of hard drives. Communications are down. Complete radio silence.

10 minutes.

Heart rates slow. Time stands still. The world comes to a slow halt. One last click.

3.

2.

1.

Green light. Mission is a go.

Exactly two minutes later, the objective is complete. All five classes are registered and processed. The squad cheers, trading high fives and fist bumps as we let out a collective sigh of relief. We've succeeded.

Registration is over.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynHk4NRloMI I apologize for the language in this song, but it's a fantastic pump-up song for intense registration. It's called Terrify! from Red Vs. Blue Season 10.

The Road goes ever on and on

Down from the door where it began.

Now far ahead the Road has gone,

And I must follow, if I can,

Pursuing it with eager feet,

Until it joins some larger way

Where many paths and errands meet.

And whither then? I cannot say.

Achievement Unlocked!

As of this moment, I have exactly 2,000 page views on this blog.

Whoa.

Also, I'm watching Pan's Labyrinth. That scene with the banquet table and the eyeless creature... I tell you, that's poetic cinematography right there. So much meaning and so crazy scary.

That's all for now. Here, have a song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRUBe2RTq74

Me and my brothers spontaneously break into this one all the time. Usually in public areas. It's quality.

Good night, everybody! God bless.

The Road goes ever on and on

Down from the door where it began.

Now far ahead the Road has gone,

And I must follow, if I can,

Pursuing it with eager feet,

Until it joins some larger way

Where many paths and errands meet.

And whither then? I cannot say.

An Encounter with Joy: Why I Love Tuesdays

So I've written sixty pages worth of essays since I got here. This is what I'm realizing as I close out this first semester of college.

Thus is the life of an English major.

Can't really complain, though. God has gifted me with the ability to take zero information and present it in a way that sounds like twenty years of research. That's an infinite percent increase in content. Writing comes pretty naturally to me, which is good for my grades. It's also good for my stress, as it reduces my homework time significantly from the hours my peers are dealing with.

Tangent: Tuesdays are my favorite days.

Today's Tuesday is no exception. I got up at 8:00 AM after a pretty long night of sleep and went to breakfast with Sierra and my heavy metal friend Sal. It was fantastically relaxing and let me get an early start on my day. By this, of course, I mean that I got an extra meal and two extra hours of Portal 2 (I only have one class on Tuesdays). Despite my lack of productivity, I felt refreshed and accomplished simply for getting up early.

I'm in Aesthetics of Cinema now. We'll be watching Pan's Labyrinth tonight for our film viewing. I'm excited. My Media Discernment class last year watched it, and it was surprisingly well done. It's a Guillermo del Toro film about a girl living with her father, who is a brutal military captain during the Spanish Civil War. The girl, Ofelia, meets an ancient faun in the mysterious labyrinth behind her homestead who tells her she is destined to be a princess in the Underworld. It's a beautiful blending of dark fantasy and sometimes darker historical fiction. Definitely worth seeing.

Chapel practice is after lunch. I love chapel. Worship is where I renew my spirit to face the rest of the week. It's a time where I can forget the rest of the world and meet with God. Right now I'm praying over Outcry auditions this weekend. Prayers would be appreciated.

I'm looking forward to hanging out with my friends tonight. It's the part of the day I look forward to from the moment I wake up. My friends bring me so much joy and our adventures just keep getting better and better.

Okay, time for a song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3sr6umaq8w This one is for the people I know who are really stressing right now. It's a song by Downhere called Living the Dream. I think it's relevant to everyone stuck in the rut of end-of-semester work. Yes, classes are tough and homework's brutal, but it's our choice in how we deal with it. We have a God who can take away our stresses and fears with a single word. Maybe you're tired. Maybe you're frustrated. But hey. This is real life. We don't have a choice in whether we have trials. What we do have is a choice in response: will our adventures be dreadful or joyful?

I could tell you my answer, but I think you can figure it out.

The Road goes ever on and on

Down from the door where it began.

Now far ahead the Road has gone,

And I must follow, if I can,

Pursuing it with eager feet,

Until it joins some larger way

Where many paths and errands meet.

And whither then? I cannot say.

My Panic and God's Passion

So after my last blog post the day kinda tanked, not gonna lie.

Environmental Science was the most boring class ever. Of all time. Despite my attempt to pay attention, I was nonetheless exhausted from staying up late and getting up early. I barely managed to keep my eyes open long enough to get back to my dorm for an hour's rest.

Then English hit hard. I was terrified of making my presentation today. Normally I'd be in good shape making a presentation in front of any number of people, but I was in a class of super-intelligent sophomores with a presentation made by someone else. My partner only covered a third of the material we needed in the presentation, so I was forced to ad-lib almost all of it. By the time it was done I was nearing a state of panic. To top it off we ended class with a discussion on self-harm, a topic that I've never entirely experienced for myself, but a lot of people I care about have. It's a topic that brings back some rough memories. 

In an effort to relax I sat back to watch the movie Flight with Denzel Washington, which I'd been meaning to watch for a while. This was not effective. The movie started almost as a comedy, then portrayed alcohol and cocaine addiction as serious issues at first, and then by the end made it into a joke again. It was horribly depressing, and though I tried to find redeeming value in it, it was hard to do so when I was too busy being offended by its derogatory portrayal of Christians. While it was still a good film, now was not a great time to watch it. 

So basically I'm still on the edge of panic. Which is not fun, because I haven't had a panic attack in a while. I really need to learn how to let go of things. I have a pretty good memory and the unfortunate tendency to remember my worst moments the most vividly. There are certain topics that trigger these memories, and it's like I'm there all over again. I feel exactly like I did at those dark times, which is disorienting and honestly terrifying. 

So tonight's song is another Red song. Ordinary World talks about letting go of the past and looking for God in the present. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQeq_T_2VE8 It's a lesson I think a lot of us need to learn. We spend years of our lives trying to sort out the past and never once notice the life we have here in the present. God blesses us with so much every day, and we can't let go of the things that are already behind us. I know for a fact that I'm beyond blessed to be here, and there's no doubt in my mind that this is where I belong. 

And honestly, just the thought that God is obviously looking out for me is more than enough to snap me out of this. He's given me a second home here at Trinity, friends who are the most awesome people on the planet, a family that loves and supports me, and most importantly, an incomprehensibly huge love that will be with me long after the things of this world fade away. So in that knowledge, I'm posting a second song, also by Red. Who We Are has almost become a creed for me, and reminds me of how when we are armed with the knowledge of God's love we have no need for fear. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDM7dauRQ3M

The Road goes ever on and on

Down from the door where it began.

Now far ahead the Road has gone,

And I must follow, if I can,

Pursuing it with eager feet,

Until it joins some larger way

Where many paths and errands meet.

And whither then? I cannot say.

Did I Just Agree with a Liberal?

I'm wearing a very small American flag on a toothpick in my hat.

Just thought you all ought to know so you can picture it as you read this installment of my insightful, intriguing, and well written blog.

Today has gone surprisingly well for a Monday. Despite the ridiculous amount of homework I had last night, I got some really good sleep and awoke feeling refreshed and ready to start the day. Before noon I had gone to two classes and written two full essays. Now I'm in Sociology, waiting for class to start.

Lunch was fantastic. In honor of Veterans' Day the cafeteria was serving classic American fare: burgers, baked potatoes, fried chicken, and more. I had a black Angus burger with smoked Gouda and mushrooms with a side of fries. I also had several slices of cheesecake. Needless to say, I was very happy. This mood was reduced slightly by my attempt to be healthy and try a veggie burger. Since the incident occurred I have become even more sure of my role as a carnivore.

If you could all pray for Sierra, who is home sick today, I would greatly appreciate it. She has a busy schedule on Monday's, so the less she misses the better.

We're watching a movie in Sociology. Awesome. Question: why can't we have fantastic health care in a hardcore capitalist society like Japan? They're wealthy and healthy. Way to be. Let's pick up the slack here, America. Japan is a conservative government that's getting health care right. If we simply regulate medicine a bit more and everything else a bit less, we'll be in good shape. A marriage of conservative and liberal ideas. Not perfect, but it's a start. Me and Krajecki just agreed on something political. WHAT IS LIFE.

Okay. Song for this post: Monster by Imagine Dragons. Doesn't have any meaning to this post, just a good song with a lot of meaning to me. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZsScfyFZlY

I'll probably be back for another post later tonight, but until then, farewell, dear readers!

The Road goes ever on and on

Down from the door where it began.

Now far ahead the Road has gone,

And I must follow, if I can,

Pursuing it with eager feet,

Until it joins some larger way

Where many paths and errands meet.

And whither then? I cannot say.

Finding Beauty in the Dust

So moments after the publication of my last post, my reverie was broken by a piercing shriek that seemed to be originating in my own skull. The scene that unfolded before me as I ran out of the building was something from a news report. Southies were gathered on the lawn in various states of undress, huddling together for warmth in the frozen air as fire trucks arrived on the scene. As it turns out, one unfortunate Southie had been making popcorn, and in true South Hall fashion burnt it to a crisp. This set off the fire alarms and in turn the fire department. The moment we were cleared for entry I stormed inside to work on homework.

This became an increasingly hopeless situation. I had lost a lot of valuable time from lunch and the fire alarm, and my English project was being complicated by a number of factors, not the least of which was the incompetency of my partner. I struggled for hours to complete it before staggering over to the BBC for dinner.

At this point Sierra came home and told horror stories of the guy she had to act with in her short film. The guy was 34, shorter than her, and an absolute creep, and while she didn't have to actually make out with him, she did have to be in very close proximity with him for her role. Both of us decided that we'd had enough work for a day and took a nap.

The night started turning around when Sierra's family called and I got to talk to them for a bit. Sierra and her sister Lexi are clearly related, as both of them are experts at the hair-mustache look. I also got to catch up a bit with one of my good friends (who shall remain nameless for now). This friend is struggling with some tough stuff, and is in need of serious prayer. If you could pray for peace and joy for her, I would greatly appreciate it. She's one of the strongest people I know, and I know God has great things in store for her. She just needs to realize it. 

I'm currently watching The Grey with Potato and Sierra. There is nothing more manly than Liam Neeson punching wolves. It might have started out awful, but this night ended up all right. Song for the night: Beautiful Things by Gungor. Though it may have been small, tonight I saw proof that God can make beautiful things even out awful times. 

http://youtu.be/kWooIrU5OwI

The Road goes ever on and on

Down from the door where it began.

Now far ahead the Road has gone,

And I must follow, if I can,

Pursuing it with eager feet,

Until it joins some larger way

Where many paths and errands meet.

And whither then? I cannot say.

Why I Skipped on Skipping

I had a lot of opportunities to skip things this morning.

I was exhausted after last night's insomnia, and while I had originally intended to go to church with Anneliese and Potato, I woke up late and was seriously considering just sleeping a few more hours rather than worshiping in the house of God. Despite this mental fatigue, something forced me up out of bed and got me ready to leave. Potato wasn't feeling well, so Anneliese and I departed as soon as I got upstairs. Both of us were struggling to keep our eyes open, and while I don't speak for both of us I really couldn't tell you much about the sermon.

What I can tell you is that the baptisms we witnessed afterward were powerful. Like, eerie powerful. Like me, each of the people who stepped forward to receive baptism had been Christians of one kind or another but had fallen away from the faith. Now, they were returning and professing their faith with a physical sign of the Living Water that flows from the throne of God. It was an incredible experience and made me completely forget my previous exhaustion.

This wore off the moment I arrived at home. I had been invited along with my floor to dine with our floor's namesake, Rev. Bill VanGroningen, or as we like to call him, Pastor Bill. I was not particularly interested in spending my much needed Sabbath at what I expected to be a rather formal lunch, but again, something prodded me to accept the offer. It turned out to be a really relaxed, fun experience. We all discussed college life, our own backgrounds, and stories of hilarity on and off campus. It was refreshing to eat a home-cooked meal for the first time in weeks, and despite our differences in age I felt welcomed and on equal footing with our sponsor. We were not expected to be quiet, over-polite scholastic robots, but were welcomed as friends and honored guests. I can honestly say I got a taste of what true Christian hospitality is supposed to look like.

And now I'm home. The laundry's started, I'm getting ready to begin a massive English assignment, and there's the promise of Liam Neeson punching wolves to look forward to with Potato and Sierra.

There's just so much life to experience here in college. I can't even begin to describe how much bigger my world has become since I arrived here, and I absolutely love it. Maybe that's why I can't sleep. My mind is flying a thousand miles an hour to keep up with the ever-changing landscape of my world. I want to explore everywhere, meet everyone, learn all there is to learn. The Trinity community is just so vibrant and God's presence just so overwhelming.

My song for today is Can't Take It In, by Imogen Heap. If you're wondering where you've heard it, it's from the end of the movie adaptation of The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NN2o13iEZPw

The Road goes ever on and on

Down from the door where it began.

Now far ahead the Road has gone,

And I must follow, if I can,

Pursuing it with eager feet,

Until it joins some larger way

Where many paths and errands meet.

And whither then? I cannot say.

It's a Dangerous Business

"It's a dangerous business, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no telling where you might be swept off to." -Bilbo Baggins

There's always adventure to be had if you don't know where you're going. 

Especially if you get on a random CTA train in full knowledge of this fact. 

Today Curly, Sierra, Krajecki and I took the train into downtown Chicago to do observations for a Sociology paper. After an obligatory stop at the Disney store and some classic American fare for lunch, Krajecki, being the only true Chicago native, led us into the "gay" part of town. Granted, getting there took us a few more stops than it should have (Krajecki initially sent us roughly 8 stations in the opposite direction), but we managed to make it with some time to spare. We made lots of observations and visited an army surplus store, where I tried on some WWII helmets and aviator caps. Overall, it was a fantastic experience and a good opportunity for some people watching. 

Upon returning home, Sierra and I had a tea and TV date. We had some fancy Christmas-themed teas and watched a couple episodes of Game of Thrones. It was a great way to relax after a long day of walking. When Mal-Mal returned home, Krajecki joined us and the four of us spent the next few hours dying of laughter over Mal-Mal's mushroom hat and Krajecki's glue bunny. This is one the reasons Trinity is such an amazing place. Under any other circumstances I can't imagine any of us encountering each other, much less being such close friends. Yet despite our differences, we are some of the most close-knit people I've ever met, and I absolutely love it. 

Later I found myself discussing the "friendzone" with Potato, Sierra, Anneliese, and Mal-Mal. Takeaway lessons: 

-Girls, if you ever find yourself attracted to a guy, don't friendzone him out of fear. You absolutely annihilate your chances with him if you do. 

-Guys, don't automatically assume you're being friendzoned. Girls need some obvious signs to tell that you like them, and backing down is not among said signs. 

Just before we went to bed, Potato, Sierra and I sat in the basement hall, discussing our stories and how we all arrived at Trinity. It was a really deep conversation, and it made me realize that I'm not alone. I didn't have a whole lot of friends at the end of senior year, but I met a lot of people over the summer who I had to leave shortly after in order to move into college. We realized that we were all swept away in the insanity of life just as it was starting to normalize. All of us left a lot behind, but each of us has found our place here in the Trinity community, surrounded by loving, supportive friends. It's honestly the most amazing gift from God I've ever received aside from his washing of my sins. 

The night has ended where most nights end for me: blogging in my room. All of my suitemates are gone, so it's unnaturally quiet around here. I'm a little unnerved. Tomorrow's going to be a big day: early church with Potato and Anneliese, lunch at Pastor Bill's with my floor, and then English homework like none other. Sierra's going to be gone for choir, immediately followed by filming for the short film she's in. I tell you, that girl is talented. Singing, songwriting, acting, you name it! 

So that's all I have to say for now. My song for tonight is Best is Yet to Come, by Red. I had to let go of a lot to come here and I left a lot of things in pieces, but I never could have predicted the blessings that have been showered on me in the short time since I arrived on campus! I thought I understood this song before, but I was wrong. It's not a song about hope in times of trial. It's a song of celebration in the new start that Christ gives to all who will accept it. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5pzjvYuOOI

Goodnight, friends! Remember, however good or bad life is now, whether you're loving life or struggling to get through the day, the best is truly yet to come. 

The Road goes ever on and on

Down from the door where it began.

Now far ahead the Road has gone,

And I must follow, if I can,

Pursuing it with eager feet,

Until it joins some larger way

Where many paths and errands meet.

And whither then? I cannot say.

Brace Yourselves. Registration is Coming.

The apocalypse began at 8:00 AM on November 8, 2013. 

It started like any other morning: I was sleeping comfortably, wrapped in about a dozen blankets to ward off the icy wind that blew from my roommate's fan, when my alarm went off. I leaped heroically out of bed, turned it off, went to sleep, woke up to Eric's alarm, fell asleep again, woke up to my alarm again, leaped slightly less heroically out of bed, and actually turned off my alarm. Then it hit me: interim registration. 

Stomach churning with a profound sense of dread, I threw open my laptop, logged into my student portal account, and called up the registration page. Suddenly massive red letters filled my vision, spelling out my fate and confirming my worst fears. 

I was missing a tuition payment, and therefore unable to register for interim. 

Meanwhile, the rest of the campus dissolved into a frenzy of WiFi warfare. Some fled to the haven of Starbucks and their public network, but while these refugees sat sipping coffee those of us who were left in the anarchy back home struggled to refresh our browsers and snag a coveted spot in the interim of our choice. Browsers were re-installed, Ethernet cables stolen, faces smashed into keyboards in rage.

In my panic I scanned my email for any indication of a problem. Sure enough, I had received a notice the night before to go to the Registrar's office to sign up for interim. I quickly suited up for the harsh environment outside, took the stairs two at a time, and dashed out the door. I ran as fast as I could across the frozen landscape, the world around me completely devoid life aside from a few others stragglers like myself. I flung open the door to the business office let it slam behind me, blocking out the freezing winds. 

Moments later I was properly registered for my Writing Workshop interim and on my way back to the frozen fortress of South Hall. While I had evaded the worst of registration's nightmares, many were not so lucky. WiFi networks campuswide collapsed, causing widespread panic. Even in my vault-like room, the screams of frustration, fury, and terror from neighboring rooms were all too audible. The number of casualties in this horrific event are incalculable. 

And in less than a week, it's all going to begin again. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktvTqknDobU

The Road goes ever on and on

Down from the door where it began.

Now far ahead the Road has gone,

And I must follow, if I can,

Pursuing it with eager feet,

Until it joins some larger way

Where many paths and errands meet.

And whither then? I cannot say.

It's Been a Long Day

Today I suffered from extreme writer's block. So rather than put forth the effort to actually type something of value, I will simply post a song. It's one that has gotten me through a lot of tough times and means a lot to me. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ

Did it work? 

Goodnight, everyone! 

The Road goes ever on and on

Down from the door where it began.

Now far ahead the Road has gone,

And I must follow, if I can,

Pursuing it with eager feet,

Until it joins some larger way

Where many paths and errands meet.

And whither then? I cannot say.

Taking a Step Back

Today's a rainy day, and boy am I exhausted.

I stayed up rather late last night with my friends, dying of laughter over YouTube. Thank you, Krajecki.

Shout out to my friend Kathy Wilkening, who was upset that she didn't make last night's post. Any Trolls reading this, you should head out Thursday at 7:00 to support her and her team at Troll volleyball!

Down to business. I woke up this morning early, realized I had three minutes until my exam, ran to Theology, took a test, and ran home to help my friend Alice study. Honestly, I'm pretty impressed with myself, as my knee is destroyed after last night's run and my eyes didn't decide to focus until I walked into Room 202 instead of 204. Not the best way to start a day.

Then I got a text from Sierra, telling me to go to chapel. I was not feeling up to sitting through a sermon this morning, and was considering just sleeping through the chapel hour. But something about that text took hold in my spirit, and despite nature's multiple attempts to kill me on the way there (wet leaves are bad for balance) I soon found myself sitting quietly by myself in the back row of the chapel.

Today was no ordinary chapel. Today was Drum Circle. Everyone took some sort of percussive instrument, and the meditation was given through our rhythmic beats. It was very much a non-traditional service, but afterwards I felt strangely rejuvenated. I'm telling you, so many times in my life I've discovered that the reason for my exhaustion is not lack of sleep: it's lack of peace.

This morning I felt God's presence and peace flowing over me, and it was worth far more than an eight hour night.

Feeling stressed? Take some time for revival. Bask in the glory of our God. The song for this post is Let Me Rediscover You by Downhere. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbLydhMo-hI

The Road goes ever on and on

Down from the door where it began.

Now far ahead the Road has gone,

And I must follow, if I can,

Pursuing it with eager feet,

Until it joins some larger way

Where many paths and errands meet.

And whither then? I cannot say.

'Twas the Night Before Tuesday

Allow me to set the scene for you.

We're in the laundry room lounge. White walls, blue booths, a row of outdated computers and purple spinning office chairs. 

I'm at my computer, waiting for Sierra to come back from printing Potato's paper. Across the table from me is Krajecki, who is watching some sort of Japanese children's show about hamsters called Hamtaro and blogging. www.maddrabbitnurse.blogspot.com. Check it out! *Disclaimer: parental guidance suggested* 

Sierra has just arrived with a bowl of ramen. I am now starving. I think it's time for ramen.

Mal-Mal is over at the computer, "working" on her paper (we all know what's going on there, Mal-Mal. Stop watching The Wanted and playing Sims.) She's been there for three hours. Mal-Mal's actual computer is in the booth behind me. Sherlock's working on fixing the charger port, which means there's just random chunks of laptop scattered everywhere. He's blasting loud music. Me and Krajecki asked him to turn it down with limited success. 

Potato has returned as well, bringing ramen and chocolate, which he is now sharing. Sorry Sierra, you may have competition. 

I'm thinking I'm going to get ramen now. It sounds really good. 

This is the kind of thing that happens every night here in college. Needless to say, I love college. 

Song for this post: Actual Cannibal Shia LaBeouf. Don't ask. Only we will ever understand.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSO0lCO3TIg

Have a good one, people! 

The Road goes ever on and on

Down from the door where it began.

Now far ahead the Road has gone,

And I must follow, if I can,

Pursuing it with eager feet,

Until it joins some larger way

Where many paths and errands meet.

And whither then? I cannot say.

To Run or Not to Run?

It's a rainy, blustery day here in Palos Heights. I've spent most of the day inside. Since no one else is around I've been playing the heck out of Fallout 3. I've also been "researching" scenes for my upcoming Aesthetics of Cinema presentation. This is more or less an excuse for me to watch The Fellowship of the Ring over and over and over again. Needless to say, it's been a pretty good day.

I just got back from academic advising, where I planned out a schedule for next semester. If all goes according to plan, I'll have five classes on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, but none on Tuesday and Thursday, allowing me time to do homework and catch up on sleep (as well as play endless hours of Fallout). It's going to be fantastic.

I'm starting to lose interest in my screens, though. I've been cramped up inside for too long. I think I might go for a run. Or maybe I'll just make some ramen and hot chocolate and watch The Two Towers. There might be usable information for my project in there. That makes it homework. I like this plan.

We're watching The King's Speech in Cinema tonight. I'm upset, considering I just watched half of it with Sierra. I can't really afford to skip it, however, because I don't remember the second half of the movie. The last time I saw it I was back in Mrs. Bush's speech class as a sophomore. My, how the years have gone by. I remember sitting in that class, bored out of my skull, annoyed by her completely subjective grading system, unable to speak to my classmates because somehow (no matter how deaf she seemed to everyone else) she would hear me every time. I remember forgetting to turn in my exam notes and her making me pinky-promise to throw them out when I got home in order to retain full credit. Like I'd sell those notes to any incoming sophomores. Ha. If I could suffer through it, they could too! I hear it's Bush's last year this year. Dang. Now I feel old. Too bad Jared and Seth will never experience the joy of having her as a teacher *heavy sarcasm*.

The thing is, for as much as I disliked her teaching Mrs. Bush commanded so much respect in my mind. She was always so on fire for God, and everything she did revolved around Him. Her constant stories of her grandchildren were repetitive but nonetheless adorable. Weird how I never realized it until now. Huh.

So. Enough inane chatter for now. It's time for a song! Song for this post: I'm Shipping Up to Boston by the Dropkick Murphys. Great pump-up song for a run like the one I'm desperately trying to convince myself to start. Feel free to share motivation. In the form of a comment. There. I said it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-64CaD8GXw

Have a great day, loyal readers! Get out there and get motivated! LEROYYYYYYYYYYY JEENNNNNNNKINSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!

The Road goes ever on and on

Down from the door where it began.

Now far ahead the Road has gone,

And I must follow, if I can,

Pursuing it with eager feet,

Until it joins some larger way

Where many paths and errands meet.

And whither then? I cannot say.

Awake My Soul: Why I Love Mondays

Alright, so maybe Mondays aren't so bad.

For a complete description of why I hate Mondays with a burning passion, please back up and read the post entitled "Why I Hate Mondays."

Despite the crushing boredom of yesterday, last night shaped up spectacularly. After finishing that post, I decided to head to the laundry room to clear my head with some Halo. There I found my good friend Mal-Mal who was "working on homework". This did not account for the fact that The Sims was clearly open on her iPod screen. Upon hearing my intention to play Halo, Mal-Mal promptly got up and decided she would play instead.

What you need to understand is that Mal-Mal has never played Halo in her life to my knowledge, especially not the original on PC. Needless to say, hilarity followed. Those interested in watching the action unfold should find me on Vine. Suddenly I was so much happier, even though my day had been terrible.

Shortly after this, I attended my floor Bible study with my fellow brothers in Christ. It was a pretty small group that night (Potato, Sherlock, Josh, and my RA Leighton), but that wasn't a problem. We discussed Ephesians 6, and I brought up the topic of spiritual warfare that I discussed in my last post. This lead to some really great discussion, and I felt like God took a huge burden off of my heart. It was a powerful moment of renewal that I'm so blessed is an integral part of the Trinity experience.

I returned to the basement to find Sierra and Mal-Mal, who had still not completed her homework and was instead playing Sims again. Mal-Mal had reached that inevitable point in the evening where rational thought was not possible, and suddenly we found ourselves dying of laughter over her failed attempt to make macaroni and cheese with Capri Sun instead of water. A bowl of ramen later, and me and Sierra kicked back for a couple episodes of Game of Thrones. It was a great way to end a rough day, and after a few shocking plot twists (SEAN BEAN, WHY U GET BETRAYED) we went our separate ways and drifted off to sleep.

This morning I had a Worship Scholar meeting at 8:30. Game of Thrones ended at 3:30. I did not think I was going to be a happy camper. Somehow, though, I was wide awake and able to engage with the text we were using to plan our Thanksgiving chapel. No spoilers, though, just in case any of our fellow Trolls are reading!

Amazing how just hours after identifying the problem, God brings me a solution! I'm so blessed to be loved by a God who created and maintains all of creation, and can bring me peace even in times of stress if I just lay down my cares before Him.

I think I'll start adding songs more regularly to this blog. Today's is one that is close to my heart, as it was one of the last songs performed by my old band, Ten Dollar Suspenders. It's a piece called Awake My Soul by Mumford and Sons, and I think it accurately reflects the feeling of renewal and strength we find when we let go and let God.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzM69btqtYI

Have a blessed day!

The Road goes ever on and on

Down from the door where it began.

Now far ahead the Road has gone,

And I must follow, if I can,

Pursuing it with eager feet,

Until it joins some larger way

Where many paths and errands meet.

And whither then? I cannot say.