Ranch Life

I am spending my summer on a dude ranch out near Steamboat Springs, Colorado. For those of you who don’t know what exactly a dude ranch is, neither did I until I got here. And I don’t think words can ever totally describe it; this is a place you must see to understand. Beka Adam, Jonathan Thiel and I have been here since May 22nd working hard, playing hard and entertaining hard in a valley surrounded by beautiful mountains.

We have around one hundred horses here, and I could write an entire blog on what I have learned from their upkeep and personalities. We have around fifty staff here, and I could write for hours on the numerous individuals that have changed me just by their dynamic personalities.

But what I want to share is about the guests (“dudes”) we have hosted at Vista Verde Ranch. I was slightly disenchanted when they showed up the first week. Since our ranch costs about $3,000 per family member for a week, it is a very select group of people we are entertaining. Sometimes I lose heart when I’m around people with a lot of money – I tend to think they are demanding, have high walls around their heart, or are uninterested in what a twenty-something has to say about anything.

However, our managers assured us that by the end of each week, we would see a change in our guests. They promised us that as we worked hard to serve them and genuinely get to know them, they would be more grateful for us than for any activity we offer (rock climbing, horse back riding, hiking, biking, fly fishing, hot air ballooning, kayaking, rafting, etc).

It has been incredible to watch it week after week. Not all of our staff are believers, but many are, and even those who aren’t have a servants’ attitude and make conversations about the guests rather than about themselves. Our guests blossom at our ranch. They feel loved, served and at home among us. Every Saturday night, our guests’ last evening, they share how meaningful the relationships were they created in such a short time. And it keeps them coming back.

This is what we have as believers to offer people – rich or poor, for the Lord created them both. Relationships. Showing people they are worthy of being loved and served. Being full of life and vigor. Inviting them to be a part of our world and purposefully becoming a part of theirs.

See ya college

Sometimes nostalgia hits in stages. It really started a year ago when I took my final exam as a junior. Senior year had officially started - the beginning of the end. Then came the last first day of class. Then the last first football game. The last last football game. The last fall semester. The last Christmas break. The last Spring Break. Then there was the day our 100 day countdown began, which today marked the end. A few days ago I went to my last class of college. Then we opened our freshman year time capsule. Then came the day I took my last final. And today after commencement, I become a college alumnus.

Everyone always says that college is a special time, and everyone is right.

If I could sum up the last four years of my life in one word, it would be Love. An odd summary, perhaps, but the best one that comes to mind. I had no idea what I was getting into when I moved to Athens four years ago. But the Lord knew exactly what He was doing. He introduced me to Liz and Anna very quickly, girls to whom I credit saving my life freshman year. Then there was Tim and Jeff, two amazing guys who kept us laughing till 3 AM every night.

I came to college not really knowing who I was. Sometimes I wonder if in four years, I'll think the same thing about present me. But I have learned a ton. The friendships I gained have become the hardest, and yet most joyful and precious thing I possess. Jesus became real to me, and I know that He's alive. I have danced, I have climbed, I have road tripped, I have taken tests, I have written papers, I have laughed till I cried with my roommates, I have felt alive and free. And it only gets more so every day.

It's basically impossible to put college into words. But I thank the Lord every day for the way He planned it. I am absolutely and undeservedly blessed.

So why do I write this? I guess my purpose is, as with all things, to give the glory to Him. I have had an incredible, incredible four years. Hallelujah to Him. John 10:10. He came so that we may have life and have it to the full. Amen. I am loved. I am loved. I am loved. So bring on life after college - I think it will be even sweeter than now. If He is there, I want to be there.

See ya UGA. It's been real.

And again I say, Rejoice.

Hope is real.
Joy is real.
Forgiveness is real.
Restoration is real.
His faithfulness is real.

He really is a God who puts broken things back together.

I've been learning a lot recently, so much that I feel as though I could fill a hundred pages with it.

But what I feel most today is rejoicing with a friend who has so many reasons to rejoice. You should read her last blog post. For real -

The Art of Being Brave


Tell me our God isn't one who saves. I want the world to know Jesus reigns.


I'll write again soon.

Reflection

A couple people have commented on me not blogging recently. I always hesitate to write after that, because I want to make sure I actually have something to say. But alas I think I do, so here goes.

I was staring at the full moon last night in wonder. In case you don't know, the sky is my favorite of all God's creation. Utterly breathtaking. But last night, I was imaging what it would be like if I knew nothing about the moon.

Let me explain. The light coming from the full moon was so bright that in a field that would have otherwise been pitch black, we could see everything. My face practically shone in the moonlight. And then I thought, if I didn't know that the moon was made of rock (slash cheese) and therefore incapable of shining on its own, I would think it was producing its own light. However, thanks to a fantastic UGA education for the past three and a half years, I know the moon only reflects the sun's light.

Naturally, I extended this metaphor to myself. Some might say that I am a friendly, kind, genuine, positive person (but ask my roommates). They may see a "light" about me. The thing is, that light's not mine. Anything that's good, or light in me was either created by God or has been redeemed by Him.

I am like the moon; I am nothing too spectacular. Just made up of a bunch of dust, and only if the Lord shines on me can I shine at all. I've heard humans called glory-coated dust and I like that. I am unique, and I serve a purpose, but I have no light of my own. Now, the more I open myself up to His Spirit in me the brighter I become - more like a full moon. And maybe the earth is like the sin that stands in the way of me being a full moon all the time. Or maybe I just took it too far.

But back to what's really important - if no one knows anything about me or the God of this Universe, they might not realize the light is not mine. They'll praise me for being friendly and forgiving when really they should praise Him for anything and everything good. I used to be afraid of accepting compliments for this reason, but now I just want to say "glory to Him" every time.

More than that, though, I want to boast in my weaknesses, my dusty dustiness. Trust me, I have a ton. Ask my roommates. I hurt people; I'm selfish; I'm forever prideful. I'd rather people know so that instead of building me up in their heads, they recognize the Holy God. Nothing good I do is of my own accord. And most of the time lately, I don't feel like I'm doing anything good at all. I feel stuck in a lunar eclipse.

But praise be to the One who mercifully shines on us even when we don't deserve it. So even if right now when all seems confusing I'm still producing a sliver of light, I know where it comes from. May we be willing to share why we reflect that light and that none of it is self-produced. Not one kilowatt. Dust cannot shine unless shone upon.

These lyrics by Jaime Jamgochian say perfectly what I'm trying to say:

Jesus, Light of the world
Shine on us, shine on us
Word of Life, spoken for all
Breathe on us, breathe on us
God's beating heart, live through us
Word of God, King Jesus

I am like the moon. I have no light of my own; I merely reflect the Sonlight.

Real Problem, Bad Solution

"Guarding your heart" is a bad solution to a real problem.

If the Fall had never happened, we would have no reason to guard our hearts. We could trust our hearts to be completely taken care of by everyone because it would be perfect. But, the Fall is a reality. The problem is that we don't take care of each other's hearts because of sin - we're insecure, prideful, selfish, jealous, etc. We hurt each other. The best solution would be for everyone to take care of each other's hearts perfectly, but we cannot. Sin keeps us from that. So the only other solution is to "guard our heart" against others so that they can't destroy us. The only person we can trust fully is the Lord. He takes care of our hearts completely, although sometimes that's hard to see --- because sin gets in the way. Think about it - if we loved each other perfectly, boundaries wouldn't need to exist. We could keep our hearts completely open. Although it makes me question would we still love God the most. But His glory so far outweighs ours, even when we will be perfect in Heaven, that I don't think that would be a problem. He is our Savior. So yes, guarding your heart sucks, but I don't know what other solution there is in a world of heartache.

This is a short post, but I want to hear your thoughts ... ?

The Right Question

Just the other night I sat at Trappeze and talked with a girl for an hour about our class presentation for the next day. The presentation was on a book of Native American Philosophy and specifically an argument against Western Christian thought. We're both pastor's kids, which is funny, but she has taken a very different path of belief than I have.

While driving home from downtown, I found myself wondering, "Jesus YOU are the light of the world. Did she see that? Does she like me? Did she think I was intelligent?"

Then I realized those last two questions are bad questions. Whether or not she likes me is actually negligible. It won't win her to Christ and really only serves the purpose of making me feel better about myself.

Then I asked myself, "Did she feel loved by me?" That felt like the right question. Her liking me is about me, but her feeling loved makes it about her. I don't care if she thinks I'm cool (Well, my flesh does, but it really shouldn't matter).

I've heard before, "People won't remember what you said to them, but they will always remember how you made them feel."

I want people to walk away from me feeling loved - always.

To be honest, I feel like you have to give up cool points to do that. It means never cutting anyone down or making jokes at their expense. It means making the conversation about the other person. It means complementing and encouraging; giving up pride and beating insecurity.

I probably won't get it right every time, but I know it's the right question to ask and action to take. Challenge me on it.

Ya Know?

Who has time to blog these days?

My thoughts are soon to come if my life ever slows down .....