priorities

Finally, an update!

Dead week is going to be the death of me...
and if I happen to survive this week, finals will end up finishing me off next week.

STUDY STUDY STUDY
I can do this. Just this week and next week, and I'm free!!! ... for one week. And then the summer semester starts up. Then it's more studying. And then a two week break. And then fall semester starts.

It's all just a routine. I know I'm called to be a student right now, but there has to be more to life than this?!?!



..... there is. And I believe that I've found it.

The past two Thursdays, a couple of friends and I visited this park right next to Tech. At this park there are a bunch of homeless people; they come out and just sit and chill and talk with each other, so one day we decided to join them. We brought water and food-- but more than that, we brought companionship and genuine care for them. And it has already been such a blessing, and we've already formed relationships with some of them in just two days! So, we decided to make this a weekly thing; we're gonna try to go there every Thursday from now on to regularly meet and talk and pray with them. And I know that this is what I want to keep on doing, this is what I'm meant to keep on doing. I've never been more sure of anything-- I know now that my purpose of existence is to keep on reaching out to the homeless, the hurt, the poor, the unlovable, the lost...

Today I asked my friend if he wanted to come with us to go hang out with the homeless. His response was, "I think right now I have to focus on priorities. Sorry." I can't say that I don't understand where he's coming from; school is important, finals are coming up, and studying is essential to do well on them. But I would disagree with him when it comes to our priorities. At the end of everything, is He really gonna care about our grades? Is He gonna ask about our GPAs? When we show Him our report cards, you really think He's going to be impressed? That can't be right... that can't possibly be what He really desires of us. No... isn't our priority to love God and love others?

"Whatever you did for the least of these, you did for me."

That was written on the binder of one of the guys we met last week. It was also the topic of Pastor Peter's mini-message two days later, for Saturday morning prayer. Coincidence? Maybe. But I believe that's what God has been trying to drill into my head ever since the college retreat. This life's not all about studying, about getting ahead, getting good grades, a good job, a nice house; it's not about me, nor is it about living a comfortable life...

I hope I will never, ever be comfortable. And I hope that more and more people will start to feel the same way as I do.