My only lifelong friend got engaged yesterday.

I'm both excited and a little weirded out. I'm extraordinarily happy for him - but because of geographic distance, I've never met his fiance. That just seems weird to me.

Also - it's like a benchmark. One of your close friends is engaged, Jason. This officially means you have reached the age where that sort of thing *can happen*.

Oh, also - you finish your undergraduate college experience in 8 days. How's *that* for a benchmark?

Now you just have to finish that paper.

Godspeed, me, godspeed.

Great Weekend

Tragedy on Prince Avenue aside, I had a pretty sweet time in the ole Athens-town this weekend.

Oh, and aside from the whole feeling sick as a dog from 10PM Friday until 6PM on Saturday thing. That wasn't so fun.

But the semi-formal? That was awesome. I helped with the decorating, which was a fantastically fun time. Lots of lights, tablecloths, and tape.

Then it was time to don the duds! Shiny smooth black dress shirt - check. Black slacks - check. Silver tie - check. Black Redcoat Band marching shoes with white shoestrings - check. If only I'd had a hat.

It was fun watching everyone arrive and interact in their finery. Though I must admit, I was wary. Not a big dance person... and some other thing which shall remain *especially* cryptic.

Took a big group photo - good times, all the smiles and the realization that I have some of the greatest friends a guy could ask for.

Then a delicious dinner - props to my roommate for making some amazing chicken (never cooks that well at home).

Certainly, I wasn't too keen on the dancing at first. Shining social super star that I am. But once one Jennifer Harris basically made me dance (good for her), I was all over that dance floor, with no idea if my dancing was ridiculous or not. I stopped caring. That was a good time. Then the tasty Waffle House. Getting to know some Tech friends.


Downtown rendezvous for the Twilight road race (which I missed all of) and to see a friend briefly. Still dressed in the duds, as I call them. It was warm. The drive home, and some fantastic sleep.


Today? Lunch with said birthday friend. Some work on a paper. VOLLEYBALL!

5 (or 6, I lost track) games. Fun, fun, fun! I even dove once or twice. And then some quiet time.

And lots of awesome online conversation. Plus - we hooked up the n64, and there was GoldenEye.

Yes. GoldenEye.

Highlights. Not the magazine.

I don't really know where to begin. But the last week, and especially the weekend, has been awesome.

And the prospect of the coming weeks seem no less awe-inspiring.

I can handle a grill... this is exciting news.
I realize how much I've grown up in the past 3 or so months. This is a staggering, though not always apparent, amount.
I only have 3 days of class, 2 presentations, 3 exams, 1 paper and 1 day of finals until I graduate. And not all of those are mutually exclusive:

21st:
8AM - Exam
9:30AM - Class cancelled
11AM - Haven't got a clue
3:30PM - Regular Class

23rd:
8AM - Regular class for me (presentation day for others)
9:30AM - Regular Class
11AM - Presentation
3:30PM - Exam

28th:
8AM - Regular class for me (presentation day for others)
9:30AM - Regular Class
11AM - Review/Presentation
3:30PM - Skipping

5th:
8AM - Presentation and Paper Due
12PM - Exam


Retreats are awesome. Getting to know folks is equally cool. Smoke or Blood is awkward.

The rain just stopped for a moment. That was strange.

I had a great weekend, full of fond memories, great discussions, and unexpected surprises. I'm looking forward to the next week.

Monday: Praise Band and Creative Group stuff
Tuesday: Nerd time.
Wednesday: 4-square and C.S. Lewis
Thursday: Last regular DaaM of the semester
Friday: Probably something fun to do
Saturday: A semi-formal that I'm excited but also anxious about



...And somewhere in there I have to study and write a paper.

Blar

More often than not, spiritual warfare is about guerrilla tactics. Stealthy and surprising. You've little hope of anticipating it, and when it strikes, it strikes at the heart and vanishes before you know what's hit you.

Occasionally, it feels as though it is based upon rote guidelines. A rank-and-file system where your opponent looks you in the eye and waits for the order that both of you can hear.

Then there's the warfare that you least expect and blindsides you. The only warning is the whistle just before impact.

Two weeks ago, I started getting hit from all sides by things I didn't expect, striking swift and quick at my greatest fears. A few days ago, it was like seeing in 4 dimensions - anticipating the exact time and source of the hits. Tonight, it was something new and different. New technology, if you will. And it hurt.


Thursday night an idea was posed to me that shouldn't have been novel, but was. We take God's grace for granted. His amazing grace, which we've done nothing to deserve. We rest on it, and do nothing to deserve it. But we should constantly sing praises for it. We should constantly strive to earn it, even though we'll never really be worthy. Tonight was Relay for Life at UGA. They took a lap of silence in remembrance for all those lost or struggling with cancer. The only sound was Amazing Grace played on bagpipes. When those first pitches sounded into an otherwise quiet and dark night sky... I felt overwhelmed.

It was later when the warfare went on. It was later when I felt overcome and hurt by things that shouldn't have hurt me. But it did. I decided to go be alone. And now here I sit contemplating grace.

We're all so far in over our heads. I should have drowned a long time ago, but here I am.

Imagine that.


More to come.