Athens and WWD 10/23

I have never been one for spur of the moment acts. Spontaneous comments and goofiness, sure - but never for the kind of thing that will dictate near-future events.

For example, I am often a bit of a wet blanket when it comes to invitations from friends to hang out when the invitation comes at the ninth hour. One fairly consistent exception to this deals with places that are quite near my house.

However, that was the not the case last night. I am typing this from the living room of a friend, upon their couch (which is also my bed). Earlier in the week, my dear friend Sarah 'no longer Rospond but now' White, was talking to me about possibly being in Athens briefly on Thursday, so I decided for certain that I would be coming up. Then I woke up feeling absolutely dreadful on Thursday, and had forgotten all about that conversation - deciding to postpone my Athens visit. However, I began feeling better around 6. Round about 8PM on Thursday, I got a text message from Sarah, who was currently sitting in the meeting room of CCF, wondering where the heck I was.

This put in a difficult position. On the one hand, I really wanted to see her. On the other, I would have to leave pretty much immediately to catch her for all of a half hour before she left. After waffling for about a minute, I ran downstairs, threw a change of clothes into my bookbag, and got into my car. A journey during which I set a personal best for travel between my home and Athens.

About 2 miles from the perimeter of Athens, or "The Loop," I saw some blue lights cue up behind and thought I was about to be very, very late. Thankfully, the gentleman immediately to my left was the culprit. So, I arrived in Athens - tired, gross, and very much flustered.

But I got to give Sarah a huge hug, and got to hug a bunch of other wonderful people in the meantime.

I'm still in Athens, in case that wasn't obvious. It's been fun - if a bit exhausting.


But I want to get back to the first sentence of this post... I have never been one for spur of the moment acts. I realized as I was driving to Athens that this wasn't entirely true. Perhaps I am not keen on spur of the moment as a whole - but my mind is quick as a whip about some things. It's a contributor to a disgustingly low level of patience.

Here's the thing though... I think the dynamic is switching - I'm more willing to do crazy and sudden things, especially where my friends are concerned. I've driven more places in the dark of night around Gwinnett county in the past month or so than ever before in my life - to hang out with a couple Core Members who are also dear friends, even if they don't know it yet.

And my mind... well, it's grown more patient. I was discussing with various people my summer that has bled on into fall, wherein nothing seems to be going in an ideal fashion. And yet, they all noticed a marked difference in me, one which I've only recently begun acknowledging... they noticed that I wasn't so much bothered by the lack of job, school, and so forth as I was bemused by it. Certainly, there are times where I feel like people's perception of me is perhaps a little bit freeloading or lazy...

But then I think about the ways in which God has tried my patience over this summer, and the ways in which he continues to do so now. Some require no elaboration, because they are personal, others because they involve people with whom the matter is private. But in all... I know that something is around the bend for me... when, how, and what... I've no notion whatsoever. But in the meantime, I am content making spur of the moment trips to be with the people who I care about. I am content getting to know and providing spiritual support for the teens at St. John Neumann...

Words of Whiz Dumb 10/23

Hebrews 6:11-12 (NRSV)
"And we want each one of you to show the same diligence, so as to realize the full assurance of hope to the very end, ¹²so that you may not become sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises."

I am content with patience for what God has in store for me. Though I admit, in diligence, I might be lacking.