College Impression Number 3
I've been told that many "professed Christian" college students renounce/fall away/turn their backs on their faith once they hit sophomore year.
And I can see why. This whole college experience has been a whole series of highs and lows so far, and regrettably, I often seek God out during the low points when I need Him the most. The first day of school I cried out to Him inside and asked Him to help me through this, to help me through being away from friends and family. The high points, however, are a whole new story. When I make new friends, go to interesting classes, experience life with more freedom than I've ever possessed - it's so easy to have God become part of my "faith" or "religion" in a neat little compartment to my overall self when I feel good about life. And when I plan out my future, when I think of what I want, the goals I want to achieve, the life I want to live, I think I might be farther away from Him than ever. "Of course," I always say to myself to ease any guilt (self-righteously), "I'll be living my life for God while I'm doing all this," yet it seems to take second priority.
There's a song by the Newsboys (yes, the good old Newsboys) called Hallelujah, with this chorus:
"She sings Hallelujah, when all has become nothing, and her hope in the Savior, has colored all she does, and taints the way she loves."
The word "taint" gives me pause, yet the idea of my hope in the Savior coloring all I do, when all else in life has become nothing...that is letting my faith become me, letting it be what I am, a Christian. I've asked God to forgive me for ever letting Him fall to the back of my mind, and I pray that I never, ever, turn away.
And I can see why. This whole college experience has been a whole series of highs and lows so far, and regrettably, I often seek God out during the low points when I need Him the most. The first day of school I cried out to Him inside and asked Him to help me through this, to help me through being away from friends and family. The high points, however, are a whole new story. When I make new friends, go to interesting classes, experience life with more freedom than I've ever possessed - it's so easy to have God become part of my "faith" or "religion" in a neat little compartment to my overall self when I feel good about life. And when I plan out my future, when I think of what I want, the goals I want to achieve, the life I want to live, I think I might be farther away from Him than ever. "Of course," I always say to myself to ease any guilt (self-righteously), "I'll be living my life for God while I'm doing all this," yet it seems to take second priority.
There's a song by the Newsboys (yes, the good old Newsboys) called Hallelujah, with this chorus:
"She sings Hallelujah, when all has become nothing, and her hope in the Savior, has colored all she does, and taints the way she loves."
The word "taint" gives me pause, yet the idea of my hope in the Savior coloring all I do, when all else in life has become nothing...that is letting my faith become me, letting it be what I am, a Christian. I've asked God to forgive me for ever letting Him fall to the back of my mind, and I pray that I never, ever, turn away.
posted by joshuam at 9:33 PM
1 Comments:
Josh, you have got to be the most insightful person I know... And I was just thinking about this the other day too. It seems like I only truly honour God when it is convenient for me. And that's something that I need to change. I've been trying to turn to Him in every aspect of my life; from the simple to the difficult decisions.
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