Sunday, November 10, 2013

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. 


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.

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